Sandy Brondello Joins Toronto Tempo as Head Coach

Sandy Brondello stepped onto the podium as Toronto Tempo’s head coach for the first time on Tuesday morning, bringing her signature smile, reminiscent of a professional wrestler making a comeback.

“This is where I wanted to be,” she expressed, adding that she was genuinely eager to help establish a team from the ground up. But there was more to her appearance than just excitement.

During a press conference lasting over 30 minutes, Brondello emphasized themes like collaboration and teamwork, topics that previously led to challenges during her tenure in New York. It seemed clear that her experience there shaped her outlook. Now, in Toronto, where she takes up her third WNBA coaching position, she views this as a chance for a fresh start.

Monica Wright Rogers, the Tempo General Manager, praised Brondello, calling her “a builder, a teacher, and a winner.” She highlighted Brondello’s character traits—humility, clarity, and care—that could uplift everyone in the organization, from rookies to veterans, and those in the locker room to those in the front office.

The coaching search for Tempo started in mid-July but took an unexpected turn when Brondello was named head coach on September 23, shortly after the Liberty’s season ended with a first-round playoff loss. To outsiders, parting ways with Brondello, just a year after bringing the first championship to New York, might seem harsh. Yet, as the season went on, the tensions between Brondello and the front office became increasingly evident.

“Honestly, I just felt like maybe it wasn’t right anymore,” she reflected on a recent podcast episode. “And obviously it was a leadership decision. I’m at my best when it’s collaborative.”

After her firing, it became clear that the real question was not if she would find another WNBA position, but rather where she would land. Wright Rogers noted, “It would be unwise not to pursue her.” Brondello was enticed with offers from Seattle, Dallas, and Toronto, but ultimately she felt most at home with the Tempo.

“It really boiled down to the partnership,” she explained, mentioning her close friendship with Wright Rogers. “I knew what kind of person she was, and that was key to me. There was a lot of common ground, and I believed I would feel comfortable in this next opportunity. This partnership and vision for the franchise felt right.”

Now, Brondello has a unique chance to spearhead team-building efforts, even as the specifics regarding the Toronto and Portland expansion drafts, free agency, and the college draft remain on hold pending a new collective bargaining agreement with the WNBA and Players Association. Her established relationships within the league should help in attracting free agents, with the roster-building process set to be a joint effort.

“That excites me,” she admitted.

While Brondello adjusts to her new role, her previous team, the Liberty, is still searching for her replacement. They have yet to appoint a head coach, although the search appears to be reaching its conclusion, with candidates like former Nets assistant Will Weaver and Mercury associate head coach Christy Tolliver in the mix.

Brondello, once the Liberty’s most successful head coach and a two-time WNBA champion, aims to bring that winning mentality to Toronto. “The goal is to bring a championship to Toronto,” she stated emphatically. “That hasn’t changed. I love to win—it’s rewarding. But I know it’s challenging. We’re starting from scratch, working to create the right culture, adding the right players, and collaborating to deliver the best team possible.”