The New York Liberty will be parting ways with head coach Sandy Brondello. The organization communicated Tuesday that Brondello’s agreement will not be extended for the subsequent season, thereby concluding their collaboration.
This determination surfaces a year following Brondello steering the Liberty to their initial WNBA title.
The Liberty “deemed nothing less than securing the championship this year as fulfilling their objectives,” according to a report by ESPN’s Alexa Philippou on Tuesday.
The franchise issued a formal expression of gratitude to Brondello, recognizing her departure as the coach with the most victories in the franchise’s history.
Following a notable eight-year period with the Phoenix Mercury, during which Brondello guided the team to a championship in her inaugural season, the Liberty enlisted Brondello’s services prior to the 2022 WNBA season.
During Brondello’s first year, the Liberty went through a trying period before achieving two consecutive seasons with a 32-8 record. Despite falling short of a championship in 2023, the team recovered to claim the title in 2024.
The Liberty commenced the 2025 season strongly, securing victories in their initial nine contests. Nevertheless, the team subsequently achieved a 18-17 record for the remainder of the season, dropping to the fifth seed in the playoffs. Their postseason journey was brief, as the Liberty were ousted by the Mercury on Friday.
Following this setback, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu addressed inquiries regarding criticism suggesting Brondello’s dismissal. Stewart exhibited surprise at the notion, uttering an interjection before dismissing it.
“For anyone questioning Sandy’s presence here, this is a team known for its resilience,” Stewart stated. “She supports us, and we support her. Her handling of the circumstances she faced was remarkable. It wasn’t easy for anyone, but she consistently approached each day with optimism and a commitment to positioning us for success.”
Ionescu concurred with Stewart’s defense of Brondello. Stewart concluded her statement by reaffirming, “We support Sandy.”
During her four-season tenure with the Liberty, Brondello attained a 107-53 record. She received the WNBA coach of the month accolade three times during her association with the team, most recently in May.
The Liberty are anticipated to promptly initiate their search for a new coach. This development will result in four WNBA teams seeking a new head coach in advance of the 2026 season.
