The New York Liberty began the 2025 season in dream fashion and stormed through the league with nine straight wins that had fans believing this could be their year. They closed the regular season with an impressive 27–17 record and secured yet another postseason berth.
But the optimism came crashing down in the playoffs when they were knocked out in the opening round by the Phoenix Mercury in a tight 2–1 series. Just days after the heartbreaking loss, the Liberty front office made a shocking move as they parted ways with head coach Sandy Brondello.
Breanna Stewart Has an Emotional Parting Message for Her Coach
The basketball world is still reeling from the decision, and yet star forward Breanna Stewart offered a heartfelt four-word message in support of her coach.
On Tuesday, the Liberty announced that they would not be renewing Brondello’s contract for the upcoming season, ending their four-year partnership. The franchise expressed gratitude for her contributions, noting that she leaves as the most successful head coach in team history.
“We would like to thank Sandy Brondello for her everlasting impact on the New York Liberty,” said Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb.
During her tenure, Brondello guided New York to a record of 107–53, two Finals appearances, and the long-awaited first WNBA championship in 2024. Despite this historic success, the Liberty decided to head in a new direction. This choice has raised eyebrows across the league.
The news quickly sparked a wave of reactions on social media. Fans, analysts, and players alike flooded timelines with messages of thanks and disbelief.
Among them was Stewart, who has consistently been one of Brondello’s strongest supporters. Stewart reshared the Liberty’s announcement post on her Instagram story and added a touching four-word note: “Eternally thankful for you @brondellosandy.”
Stewart’s message echoed what she had expressed just days earlier during a postgame interview. After New York’s playoff exit, when Brondello’s future was being questioned, Stewart quickly dismissed the idea that her coach’s job should even be in doubt. She made it clear that the team fully supported Brondello.
“To anybody that kind of questions Sandy being there, this is a resilient group… She has our back, and we have hers. The way she continues to deal with the cards she was dealt was incredible.”
“It wasn’t easy for anybody, but she came in with a positive attitude and a mindset to put us in our best position possible and best foot forward. We’re not going to be a team that points fingers,” said Stewart regarding Brondello during the postgame interview.
That’s what makes the firing so puzzling. Even with her players publicly backing her, Brondello was let go. The decision has not only generated sympathy for the coach but also sparked criticism and even humor across the league.
Many fans have created memes targeting other coaches and have also pointed out that while Brondello was dismissed despite leading her team to consistent playoff success, coaches like Chris Koclanes in Dallas and Tyler Marsh in Chicago couldn’t even steer their teams into the postseason and still kept their jobs.
“I didn’t love it for Sandy, I have to be honest. She’s just won a championship. She’s won in other places, and I know her to be a quality coach and a quality person. Those are rare sometimes to get that mixture of qualities as a head coach,” said Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon regarding the Liberty’s decision to fire Brondello.
As for Stewart, she once again proved why she’s one of the league’s top talents. She averaged 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists during the regular season and powered New York back to the playoffs.
Her postseason, however, came with added challenges. In Game 1 against Phoenix, she suffered a knee scare after finishing a tough layup through contact late in overtime.
Diagnosed with a sprained MCL, her availability was in question, but she fought through the injury to average 18.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and three assists across the series. Unfortunately, her efforts weren’t enough to push the Liberty past the first round.
While Brondello’s departure signals a new chapter for the Liberty, Stewart’s words remind fans of the loyalty and appreciation players hold for their coaches.
