Liberty eye 'massive opportunity' ahead as unknowns loom, Kolb says

New York Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said Thursday that the team faces a massive opportunity in the months ahead, even as unknowns loom over roster size, the salary cap and expansion drafts because of an unfinished collective bargaining agreement. The offseason has already reshaped the franchise, with head coach Sandy Brondello ousted after the Liberty followed their 2024 title with a first-round playoff exit. The move set a fresh direction for a team that intends to be aggressive in retooling around its core.

Kolb stressed that Brondello’s departure wasn’t solely tied to this season’s performance and expressed confidence in the organization’s long-range plan. “I have the utmost confidence that they want to be back with us,” Kolb said of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones, who have all shared plans to run it back in 2026. He added that the trio’s return will depend on the team’s ability to hire the right coach and to navigate the league’s evolving landscape: “There’s still plenty of unknowns surrounding roster size, salary cap and expansion drafts because of the unfinished collective bargaining agreement.” Kolb described the moment as an opportunity that could define the WNBA for years, noting that the next contract cycles may be pivotal for multiple franchises.

This offseason is expected to be aggressive, with Kolb signaling that the Liberty will push to fortify their roster while they search for a coach to lead a new direction. He warned that the “contract links” and league-wide free-agent market could create ripple effects beyond New York, potentially shaping rosters for three or four years. The Liberty began assembling a plan in a press gathering at the Barclays Center during training camp as part of a broader reset, and Kolb emphasized that building around the star trio will require a forward-thinking approach to style and personnel.

The on-court lessons from this season underscored the challenges the Liberty faced against physically imposing teams. Offense often stalled after initial actions were disrupted, and defense and rebounding regressed. The team went from being the league’s top rebounding squad in 2024 to seventh this season, and its defensive rating slipped from the top three in 2024 (95.3) to 100.6 this year. Kolb acknowledged the vulnerabilities exposed by the schedule and opposition, and he said internal review remains ongoing as the franchise contemplates how to address those gaps with a new coaching voice.

Losing Betnijah Laney-Hamilton to a knee injury for the entire season undoubtedly hurt the Liberty. Kolb said the organization expects to have her back next year, but the team will also evaluate whether other personnel changes are necessary. Nyara Sabally’s health was another focal point: she won’t play this offseason to rehabilitate her right knee, continuing a pattern of injury trouble that limited her to 17 games this season after entering as a major postseason contributor in 2024. Sabally averaged a career-high 5.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in limited action, and the team remains hopeful she can regain her form in 2026 with a healthier approach to her workload. Kolb spoke candidly about Sabally’s resilience, noting that her service to the club during a difficult season underscored the character the Liberty intend to build around.

Leonie Fiebich also faced a painful setback when she fractured a rib after taking a knee to the torso early in Game 3 of the first-round series. The injury occurred after a collision in Phoenix; Fiebich left the game but later returned to finish with three points, three rebounds and one assist in 28 minutes. Kolb highlighted Fiebich’s toughness and her continued development as a reliable, efficient shooter, pointing to season-end numbers that reinforced her value as a starter. She finished the season as one of the league’s most efficient shooters, averaging 8.7 points on strong shooting across the board.

The Liberty’s roster updates and the coaching search will unfold against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving game. Kolb noted that the sport is changing on both ends of the floor and that teams across the league are adopting new styles to counter evolving defenses and pace. “The game is changing rapidly,” he said. “I honestly don’t even know if it’s the same league as in 2023. We’re seeing a basketball style on both sides of the ball that is rapidly changing and I think that will impact our decision not only that we made recently but also roster as we look at our build and making sure that we are not standing still and we provide the right ingredients for whomever sits in that coaching seat to cook with.”

Kolb emphasized that the 2025 season was not a lost one in the strict sense, and that there were tangible learning opportunities throughout. The Liberty will need to balance preserving the strengths that carried them to a title with the flexibility to adjust to the league’s evolving strategies. The decision on a new head coach will be central to that balance, as will the ability to navigate the looming salary cap and expansion-draft rules tied to the CBA. The franchise has signaled that it intends to be proactive on multiple fronts, from player retention and acquisition to staff and development programs designed to maximize the talents of Stewart, Ionescu and Jones.

As the team plots its path, New York will also rely on its training-camp environment to evaluate gaps, test potential approaches and begin aligning the roster to a strategic vision. The next few weeks promise significant developments as Kolb and the Liberty weigh contracts, opportunities abroad and the best way to maximize their championship window. With the star trio’s stated intent to return for 2026 and a market-wide free-agent boom expected to shape the league, the Liberty’s leadership believes the moment is ripe for a transformative push that could extend beyond a single season.

The team’s attention now centers on assembling a coaching staff capable of translating Kolb’s strategic vision into on-court productivity. The forthcoming decision will test the Liberty’s willingness to adapt while preserving the core that helped them win a title just a year earlier. If Kolb’s assessment proves prescient, New York could emerge from this offseason with a refreshed roster, a refreshed coaching philosophy and a clear path toward contending again for a championship in 2026 and beyond.