The New York Liberty has announced that they will not renew the contract of head coach Sandy Brondello. This marks an end to her four-year stint in New York.
A brief look at her tenure
- Brondello leaves as the winningest coach in franchise history, compiling a 107-53 record in four seasons.
- Under her leadership, the Liberty made two consecutive Finals appearances, which were in 2023 and 2024. They captured the Commissioner’s Cup in 2023 and won the franchise’s first WNBA Championship in 2024.
What led to the decision
The decision seems rooted in high expectations combined with a disappointing finish:
- After winning the championship in 2024, the New York Liberty entered 2025 as one of the teams to beat.
- New York finished the regular season as the 5-seed and was eliminated in the first round. They were beaten 2-1 by the Phoenix Mercury.
- Sources indicate that Liberty management judged “nothing short of a championship” to be acceptable. This means anything less would require serious evaluation. ESPN.com+1
Response from Brondello and the team
- In a statement via text message, Brondello noted. “Bringing the first-ever championship to New York will always be the most amazing feeling.” She expressed gratitude for her time with the Liberty.
- Across the locker room, the support for her remained strong. Breanna Stewart said, “She has our back, and we have hers … she came in every day with a positive attitude …”
What’s next
Potential candidates may include internal promotions (assistant coaches) or external hires from veteran WNBA or college coaching ranks.
The Liberty front office, led by GM Jonathan Kolb. Has announced it will immediately begin a search for a new head coach.