Less than a year after winning the first WNBA championship in the history of the franchise, the freedom of New York is moving to the coach who took them to the title.
Following a first round of the WNBA playoffs last Friday, Liberty announced on Tuesday that they will not renew the contract of Chief coach Sandy Bondello, who was 107-53 (.669) in four seasons with the franchise, including the leading of New York to the 2024 championship and the appearances in the WNBA WNBA finals.
The defense of the New York title was tarnished by the injuries. The Liberty played the whole season without starting the Ala Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, and former MVP Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart lost extended extensions. Even so, New York probably had a lower performance than its talent less than all its strength, ending with seed No. 5 to establish a difficult first round against the Phoenix Mercury without the benefit of the advantage of the domestic court.
Before a low criticism season for freedom, and the entire WNBA is negotiated as a new collective bargaining agreement, they must decide on the coach to take them to a new era. Only one player (Leonie Febich) who saw more than seven minutes of action in the playoffs is under contract.
Katie Barnes, Kevin Pelton and Michael Voepel de ESPN break down why New York made this movement, who could be the next in Liberty's lateral line and where Brondello could land as a coaches free agent.
Why is freedom moving from Brondello now?
Michael Voepel: There were rumors during the season that Brondello could be in the hot seat, although for many observers that made no sense. From the outside, it is difficult to see his four seasons in New York as anything but success. His mandate erased the vacuum of the Liberty Championship: first with the title of the Cup of the Commissioner in 2023 and then the WNBA title in 2024.
However, it is difficult to always know what happens behind closed doors with respect to the dynamics of the team and the conversations between the administration, the coaches and the players.
Some point to the Indiana fever No. 6 full of an injury that still plays in the semifinals of the WNBA, while the freedom seed No. 5 has been eliminated. But despite the many fever injuries, especially in the guard position and the most important thing for Caitlin Clark, Indiana had four other players that appeared in each game this season, three of which began each game.
Between injuries and players in the competition abroad, freedom did not have as continuity in their alignment throughout the season as expected. And the losses of Laney-Hamilton (injury) and Kayla Thornton (taken in the expansion draft by Golden State) subtracted the defense and depth of New York compared to 2024.
Ultimately, the management of freedom did not believe that the freedom of 2025 achieved what I expected, and Brondello took the fall.
1:01
Liberty dethroned as Mercury Advance in the WNBA playoffs
The Phoenix Mercury defeats the New York Liberty 79-73 and advances behind 23 points of Satou Sabally.
What follows for freedom?
Katie Barnes: Liberty's main office could I have to control the players. Almost all five initials will be free agents without restrictions, including Stewart. When asked about Bondello's future after the New York departure from the WNBA playoffs last week, Stewart unequivocally expressed his support for Brondello.
“She supports, and we have his,” Stewart said. “It was not easy for anyone, but she arrived every day with a positive attitude and a mentality to put us in our best possible position. Therefore, we will not be a team that points to the fingers. There are many of us who could have done it better this season.”
The Natasha Cloud owner added: “All players love her … I think there should be much more respect, and that can also be told to our fans. She only brought you a first championship to this organization. It is better that you have a little respect for their name.”
Of course, there is a lot of support in the costumes for this decision, but in a low season full of uncertainty with this list, explaining this decision in the midst of the desire to retain the current talent and recruit new players will be essential.
Who are the potential candidates for Liberty chief coaching work?
Kevin Pelton: The most interesting candidate could have been at the New York Bank this season. The assistant coach, Sonia Raman, has a curriculum that is widely similar to that of the WNBA Natalie Nakase's coach before being hired by Golden State Valkyries last year, including experience as an assistant NBA coach.
Raman spent three years with the Grizzlies of Memphis and has experience in the chief coach, although at the level of division III with the MIT. It is possible for a reason why freedom made this movement now is because other teams, including Seattle's storm, which announced on Sunday that they are not renewing the coach Noelle Quinn contract, they could be interested in Raman.
Other attendees who could make the leap to the chief coach include Rebekkah Brunson from the Minnesota Lynx, Briann January of Indiana Fever and Kristi Toliver of the Phoenix Mercury, all currently currently currently currently in the WNBA semifinals.
If New York wants a more experienced candidate, Liberty's financial resources could allow them to attract a higher level of candidate to which we have seen the WNBA jump in recent years. Jenny Boucek of the Indiana Pacers and James Wade of the Toronto Raptors are experienced former WNBA chief coaches who now serve as NBA assistants whom New York could try to court. And freedom could reasonably launch coaches in the upper level of the upper level.
Convince the three times national champion Dawn Staley, a finalist when Mercury hired Nate Tibetts, to leave South Carolina would be a long opportunity in the best
VOEPEL: As WNBA expands, the group of training candidates has become more diverse and interesting, since it includes coaches with many different experiences. The success of Atlanta's dream in the first season of Karl Symesko is an example; He spent his career in the university game before joining the WNBA this year. Its transition probably makes WNBA more attractive to other university coaches.
And almost 30 years after the launch of the WNBA, more former players who spent many years in the League are now in training ranks. Together with the candidates that Kevin mentioned, consider the Assistant Lynx Lindsay Whatn, who was also previously chief coach of the University. Whatn might not be ready to move now, but it is representative of the players of the Hall of Fame in training ranks.
Said all this, there is also an understandable concern that from now on, there are no black women in chief coach positions in a league where black women constitute most players. Two were fired last season (Teresa Weatherspoon and Tanisha Wright) and one this season (Quinn).
Meanwhile, The Liberty fired a winner tested in Brondello, who won titles in Phoenix and New York. Do they already have strong candidates? It is not a good strategy if they let Brondello go without a good idea who will be their replacement.
What could be below for Brondello?
PELTON: Given his championship pedigree, Brondello immediately becomes the candidate for the most attractive chief coach. I was not out of work the last time it was allowed to go for Phoenix after the WNBA finals of 2021, immediately landing with New York. If Brondello wants to take another job quickly, be it the storm or the two expansion franchises that have not yet hired chief coaches (Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo) would be the next logical stops.
With an expansion team, Brondello would have the opportunity to help shape the list to your liking through free agency and expansion draft. I would give the new WNBA immediate credibility organizations with free agents, since almost all veteran league players hit the market this low season.
Even so, Seattle could be the best for Brondello, who finished his career as a player with the storm in 2003. General Manager Talisa Rhea made clear on Monday that he expects Seattle to deal with a title, potentially with a nucleus similar to the group that ended seventh this season, but defeated each team of Playoffs Save indivila twice during the regular season.
Brondello has experience in the coach of the storm guard Skylar Diggins of his time with mercury and could reasonably help Seattle to get more out of his list. Brondello would also bring the history of developing Brittney Griner from a selection No. 1 to a selection of six times to the All WNBA on his watch, relevant as the storm hopes to convert the Dominique Malonga center into the centerpiece of his future.
VOEPEL: The Brondello curriculum is impressive, but this is also: it treats people with respect and brings that dynamic with all their places to which it goes. She can train veterans, rookies and all those who are between equally well, and her enthusiasm for the construction of equipment and the camaraderie never seems to decrease. If Brondello wants to continue training in the WNBA, he will have opportunities. The coaches with their background, success and experience are not available so often.
