Sonia Raman Takes Head Coach Position with the Storm

Sonia Raman, an assistant with the Liberty, is leaving New York to take over as the head coach for the Storm, as confirmed on Friday. This marks a significant move, especially for Raman, who was considered for the head coach role with the Liberty.

In the end, she opted for a multi-year contract with the Storm, leaving New York as the last team in the WNBA without a head coach. Her hiring is particularly noteworthy as it makes her the first Indian-American woman to hold a head coaching position in the league.

At 51, Raman steps in for Noel Quinn, whose contract was not renewed after four seasons. The timing is interesting, as she will play a pivotal role in developing 2025’s No. 2 overall pick, Dominick Malonga.

Raman brings with her a wealth of experience, having coached at various levels, including college, NBA, and WNBA. In fact, Taylor Jenkins, the former Grizzlies head coach, once praised her basketball IQ and exceptional teaching abilities.

She began her coaching journey as the head coach for MIT’s women’s team in 2008, where she led the team to the Division III NCAA Tournament twice, making her the program’s all-time winningest coach. In 2020, she joined Jenkins’ staff in Memphis, initially focusing on defense before transitioning to the offense in her third year.

Interestingly, Raman was added to Sandy Brondello’s Liberty coaching staff just last season. With her departure, the Liberty now have three vacancies on their bench to fill. Brondello was recently hired as the inaugural head coach for the Toronto Tempo after being let go by the Liberty last month.

In other related movements, the Wings are expected to bring on South Florida women’s coach Jose Fernandez, while the Fire have already hired Cavaliers assistant Alex Salama as their first head coach. Following Brondello’s exit, her husband Olaf Lange, who served as a staff assistant in New York, has also left.

As for the Liberty’s next potential hires, names like former Nets assistant Will Weaver, G League head coach Joseph Blair, and Mercury associate head coach Christy Tolliver are in the mix. While it’s still unclear what next season’s roster might look like given that many players are free agents, Raman’s new position means she’ll have a unique opportunity to work closely with Malonga, who many are already comparing to Victor Wembanyama, a highly praised prospect in the league.