Liberty part ways with coach Sandy Brondello one season after historic WNBA title

The New York Liberty announced Tuesday that head coach Sandy Brondello will not have her contract renewed for the 2026 season, ending a four-year run that included the franchise’s first WNBA championship. The decision came after the Liberty were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by the Phoenix Mercury last week.

Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb praised Brondello for guiding the team to unprecedented success, calling her the winningest coach in franchise history and noting that she led the Liberty to a historic championship. "We would like to thank Sandy Brondello for her everlasting impact on the New York Liberty," Kolb said in a statement. "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."

The Liberty, who entered the postseason as the No. 5 seed, faltered in the final stretch of the season due to injuries to key players but still earned a playoff berth. After the loss to Phoenix, Breanna Stewart spoke in defense of Brondello, emphasizing the resilience of a group that trusted its coach and fought through a difficult run to reach the playoffs.

Brondello’s tenure in New York followed eight seasons with Phoenix, where she also won a championship. Since taking over in 2022, she became the Liberty’s first coach to win a title and helped push the franchise to heights never seen before in New York.

Brondello issued a statement to The Associated Press reflecting on her time with the Liberty: "It has been a privilege to have coached the NY Liberty these last four years. Bringing the first ever championship to New York will always be the most amazing feeling. I wish the team and organization more success moving forward."

With Brondello’s departure, the Liberty begin a search for a new coach. The organization said it would evaluate options and will announce next steps in due course as it moves toward the 2026 season.

The decision comes amid a season that, despite playoff qualification, underscored the team’s need for continuity on the bench as it seeks to sustain the championship standard Brondello helped establish. The Liberty have not announced a replacement at this time, and franchise officials emphasized a comprehensive review of the coaching position will guide their next steps.