Brondello Reflects on Coaching Departure from Liberty

Sandy Brondello has publicly addressed her firing as head coach of the Liberty, citing a lack of “coordination” with the team’s management.

Brondello, who guided the Liberty to its inaugural WNBA championship in 2024, was let go on September 23 after the team lost in the first round of the playoffs this year.

“Honestly, I just felt like it probably wasn’t the right fit anymore,” Brondello remarked during an episode of Sue Bird’s podcast, “Bird’s Eye View,” released last Friday. “And obviously it was a leadership decision. I’m at my best when there’s a partnership in place.”

At 57, she recently accepted the role as the first coach of the expansion Toronto Tempo. Even if a five-year stay at Liberty had been in the cards, she mentioned, “I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

“It was just time,” she asserted. “The players need a new voice, and I need a new challenge. If there’s any misalignment, it’s time to move.”

Reflecting on how Liberty’s offense “stalled” during the 2024 Finals, Brondello stated, “We probably didn’t see eye to eye on what it was and how we could improve.”

In September, Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb explained that Brondello’s dismissal stemmed from a need for “evolution and innovation,” also hinting he might pursue coaching himself in 2024.

“We just won, but I probably wasn’t as happy as I thought I would be because… well, you didn’t do this,” Brondello mentioned, seemingly referencing critiques of her team’s performance. “I wasn’t perfect. Obviously, I made some mistakes, as did the players. We didn’t really shoot well, but we won the championship. It doesn’t matter how we won; we did it together, so it should be a special time.”

As of now, Liberty is the only WNBA team without a head coach, and the search has been ongoing for three months. Notable candidates include Mercury assistant coach Christy Tolliver and former Nets assistant coach Will Weaver, among others.

Bird inquired whether Brondello felt the expectations were unrealistic or if she understood the win-or-lose mentality. To this, Brondello replied, “I think it’s a little bit of both.”

She retired as the franchise’s all-time winningest coach, expressing, “I had a great four years. It’s been fantastic what we’ve accomplished in New York, and if they want to move on, so be it.”