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The New York Liberty have announced they will not renew coach Sandy Brondello's contract, ending her tenure just four days after the defending WNBA champs were ousted in the first round of the playoffs. The organization expressed gratitude for Brondello's leadership. Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb praised her as the winningest coach in franchise history and credited her with elevating the team to "never-before-seen heights," including becoming the first coach to lead the Liberty to a championship. He also wished her well in whatever comes next.
Brondello, hired in December 2021, finishes with a record of 107 wins and 53 losses over four seasons in New York. Despite capturing the title last year, the Liberty were hampered this season by injuries to key players Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu. These setbacks contributed to the team slipping to a No. 5 seed in the playoffs. Their run ended when they fell to the Phoenix Mercury 79-73 in Game 3 of the first round.
In the wake of the defeat, both players and staff spoke in support of Brondello. Stewart commented after the final game that despite the loss, Brondello had shown up every day with a positive attitude and a commitment to doing everything possible to put the team in the best position. She added that the Liberty would not resort to blaming anyone. Guard Natasha Cloud echoed those feelings, saying Brondello "did an amazing job this year of getting us through injuries, keeping us together, staying optimistic and positive." She called Brondello one of the winningest coaches in the league and emphasized how deeply loved she is by the players, urging more respect from fans and others.
The decision marks the end of a significant era for New York basketball. Brondello guided the franchise through its most successful stretch, culminating in its first-ever WNBA championship. As the Liberty begin their search for a new head coach, the organization reflects on the impact Brondello made both on and off the court, acknowledging her role in building a competitive, resilient team capable of achieving championship glory.
