Sandy Brondello is out as head coach.
Shocking move by New York Liberty less than season after WNBA title originally appeared on The Sporting News
The New York Liberty wasted no time shaking up their franchise. On Tuesday, the team cut ties with head coach Sandy Brondello, only a year removed from guiding them to the 2024 WNBA championship.
Brondello, the winningest coach in Liberty history, became the fall woman after the team’s 2025 campaign collapsed. New York opened the year on a nine-game winning streak, then slid badly, finishing in fifth place. Their season ended with a first-round playoff exit to the Phoenix Mercury on Sept. 19.
From champion to out of work
The decision comes as a shock given Brondello’s résumé. In four seasons with New York, she went 107-53, delivered a Finals appearance in 2023, and broke through with the franchise’s first championship in 2024. She had previously won a title with Phoenix in 2014 and ranks sixth on the league’s all-time wins list.
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However, injuries to Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones and inconsistent play down the stretch kept the Liberty from ever resembling last year’s dominant squad. By the time Stewart’s knee flared up in the postseason, New York looked like a shadow of the team that paraded down the Canyon of Heroes last fall.
Players had her back
Despite the front office’s decision, Liberty stars defended Brondello to the end. Stewart praised her coach’s positivity during a tough season, while Natasha Cloud called her “one of the winningest coaches in this league” and insisted the locker room would always have her back.
Their words weren’t enough. By Tuesday morning, the Liberty moved on.
What’s next for New York?
The Liberty now join the Seattle Storm and the league’s two expansion franchises, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, in the hunt for a new coach. Early names being tossed around include Liberty assistant Sonia Raman, Fever assistant Brian January, and Baylor coach Nikki Collen.
Brondello, 57, isn’t expected to stay unemployed for long. With her track record and reputation as a strong locker room leader, she’ll be a top candidate for any WNBA opening.
For New York, the decision is clear: after a season that began with sky-high expectations and ended with a quick playoff exit, change couldn’t wait.
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Category: Basketball
