The New York Liberty are moving on from head coach Sandy Brondello nearly a year after the veteran WNBA coach led the franchise to its first championship.
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The pressure was immense, but Brondello’s calm leadership and tactical approach paid off. In just her second season, she led the Liberty to their first championship in franchise history, ending decades of frustration for fans and establishing the team as a legitimate powerhouse.
That context makes the decision to move on from her all the more baffling. Brondello achieved what no previous coach had managed, and she did so while balancing the egos and playing styles of a roster stacked with All-Stars.
Under her watch, the Liberty played a brand of basketball that combined offensive versatility with defensive grit, dismantling opponents en route to the Finals. Their victory was not just a triumph for the team but also a milestone moment for the WNBA, as one of its biggest markets finally secured a title.
The question, then, is why the Liberty chose to part ways with her so soon. Reports suggest that philosophical differences between Brondello and the front office may have been a factor.
Building and sustaining a dynasty requires alignment between coaching staff and management, and any divergence in vision can create friction.
The team released a statement Tuesday announcing the decision not to renew Brondello’s contract for the 2026 season.
New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello looks down the court in the first half against the Las Vegas Aces during Game 2 of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena Oct. 11, 2023. (Candice Ward/USA Today Sports)
“We would like to thank Sandy Brondello for her everlasting impact on the New York Liberty,” general manager Jonathan Kolb said in a statement. “Sandy finishes her tenure in New York as the winningest coach in franchise history, and she took us to never-before-seen heights as the first head coach to lead the Liberty to a championship.
“We wish Sandy the very best in her next chapter.”
The move comes after the Liberty were eliminated from the playoffs following a first-round loss to the Phoenix Mercury last week.
“It has been a privilege to have coached the N.Y. Liberty these last four years. Bringing the first ever championship to New York will always be the most amazing feeling. I wish the team and organization more success moving forward,” Brondello said in a statement to The Associated Press.”
New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello reacts during the second half against the Chicago Sky at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Aug. 21, 2025. (John Jones/Imagn Images)
The reigning WNBA champions were eliminated from the playoffs Friday following a 79-73 loss in Game 3 of their series against the Mercury. In the postgame news conference, Breanna Stewart was stunned by a question from a reporter who asked what her response would be to those questioning if Brondello should be brought back for next season.
“What the f—?” Stewart immediately responded.
“To anybody that questions Sandy being here, this is a resilient group, and she has our back, and we have hers. The way that she continued to kind of deal with the cards she was dealt was incredible. It wasn’t easy for anybody, but she came in every day with a positive attitude and a mindset to put us in our best positions possible and best foot forward.”
New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during the first half of Game 3 of the first round of the 2025 WNBA playoffs at PHX Arena after New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) made a 3-point basket in Phoenix, Ariz., Sept. 19, 2025. (Joe Camporeale/Imagn Images)
Despite injuries to star players this season, Brondello led the Liberty to the playoffs with the No. 5 seed. Last season she coached New York to its first WNBA title in franchise history in a decisive Game 5 overtime victory over Minnesota.
She joined New York in 2022 after eight seasons in Phoenix, where she also led the Mercury to a championship.
The New York Liberty have announced they are parting ways with head coach Sandy Brondello, a move that comes less than a year after she guided the team to its long-awaited first WNBA championship.
The decision has sent shockwaves across the league, as Brondello had been widely praised for molding a roster full of stars into a cohesive unit that finally delivered on years of promise. Her departure marks a surprising twist for a franchise that seemed to be entering a period of stability and dominance.
Brondello’s tenure with the Liberty will now be remembered as brief but historic. She was appointed in 2022 with the clear mandate of transforming New York into a contender, particularly after the front office made blockbuster moves to acquire Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Courtney Vandersloot to join Sabrina Ionescu.
It is possible that, despite her success, Brondello and Liberty leadership did not see eye to eye on how to evolve the team moving forward. With the franchise under pressure to maintain championship form, even minor disagreements may have been enough to prompt a change.
Another possibility lies in the weight of expectations. Winning one title often raises the bar to an almost impossible level, and ownership may already be focused on building a dynasty to rival the Las Vegas Aces.
If the Liberty’s 2024 campaign showed any cracks—whether in performance, chemistry, or tactics—the front office may have concluded that a new voice was needed to keep the momentum alive.
In the hyper-competitive environment of the WNBA, where windows of opportunity can close quickly, patience is often in short supply.
For Brondello, the move is both a setback and a testament to her legacy. A championship coach with more than two decades of experience in the league, she has proven her ability to win at the highest level.
Before her Liberty stint, she led the Phoenix Mercury to a title in 2014 and multiple Finals appearances. Her résumé ensures that she will be a top candidate for future coaching openings, whether in the WNBA or internationally.
In fact, her international pedigree—she has coached the Australian national team—makes her one of the most respected figures in women’s basketball globally.
The Liberty’s decision now puts immense pressure on the next head coach. Whoever steps into the role will inherit a roster brimming with talent but also burdened with sky-high expectations. Stewart, Ionescu, Vandersloot, and Jones represent one of the most formidable lineups in basketball, but managing minutes, roles, and personalities remains a delicate task.
Brondello had shown an ability to strike that balance; it is far from guaranteed that her successor will do the same. Any stumble could invite scrutiny and second-guessing of the decision to part ways with a championship-winning coach.
Players’ reactions will also be crucial. Many of them had expressed admiration for Brondello’s leadership during the championship run, and her dismissal could create ripple effects within the locker room.
Maintaining morale and focus during this transition will be vital for the Liberty to stay on track as contenders. In professional sports, chemistry is as important as talent, and a coaching change risks unsettling the dynamic that helped carry the team to its historic triumph.
From a broader perspective, the move underscores the unforgiving nature of modern professional sports. Success, even at the highest level, does not always guarantee security. Coaches are increasingly judged not just by past accomplishments but by their ability to align with the ever-shifting visions of ownership and management. In Brondello’s case, delivering the Liberty’s first championship was not enough to guarantee her long-term future, a reminder that in elite competition, yesterday’s achievements quickly become today’s expectations.
For fans, the news is bittersweet. While the championship remains a cherished memory, the abrupt departure of the coach who made it possible has created uncertainty about the team’s direction.
Supporters will be watching closely to see who the Liberty appoint as Brondello’s replacement and whether that choice can build on the foundation she laid.
Anything less than sustained championship contention will raise questions about whether the franchise acted too hastily.
As for Sandy Brondello, her place in WNBA history is secure. She is one of the few coaches to win championships with multiple franchises, and her impact on the growth of the women’s game is undeniable.
While her Liberty chapter has ended sooner than expected, it remains one of the most significant accomplishments of her career. She leaves behind a team transformed, a city that finally tasted basketball glory, and a legacy that will endure regardless of what comes next.
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