On Tuesday, September 23, New York Liberty announced that head coach Sandy Brondello’s contract will not be renewed for the 2026 season, just one year after guiding them to the 2024 WNBA championship.
This announcement comes just under a week after ending their Playoff run by being eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Mercury on September 19.
Brondello says goodbye to Liberty
The truth is that Liberty had the best start of the franchise with nine consecutive victories, but then fell to fifth place in the league and ceased to resemble the team that had been crowned champion the previous year.
Meanwhile, Brondello, 57, became the winningest coach in Liberty history. However, the New York team decided not to renew Sandy’s contract:
“We would like to thank Sandy Brondello for her everlasting impact on the New York Liberty,” said Jonathan Kolb, General Manager, New York Liberty. “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.”
Injuries also didn’t help Sandy, who had to adjust the roster in the absence of Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart, who also suffered a medial collateral ligament injury after Game 1, but decided to continue playing with the team.
After Liberty’s loss to Phoenix, it was Breanna who highlighted Brondello’s work and attitude in the face of the difficulties faced by the team: “She came in every day with a positive attitude and a mindset to put us in our best possible position and best foot forward” said the veteran.
Natasha Cloud also joined Stewart and added: “Sandy did an amazing job this year of getting us through injuries, keeping us together, staying optimistic and positive. Sandy is one of the winningest coaches in this f***ing league… Every player loves her.”
Brondello leaves with a 107-53 record in four seasons with Liberty, in which he reached the 2023 Final Four, reached the team’s first championship in 2024, and having left an indelible mark on NY.
She currently ranks sixth on the WNBA’s all-time wins list, so Brondello is not expected to remain unemployed for long.
Meanwhile, Liberty confirmed that they are already in the search for a new coach for the team.
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