The New York Liberty have fired head coach Sandy Brondello. The shocking move comes days after the team’s disappointing exit from the 2025 WNBA playoffs. The Liberty announced the news on social media.
Widely expected to defend their title, the Liberty fell well short of expectations. The immediate decision to sack the winningest coach who led them to their only title was met with immense criticism.
Sandy Brondello Takes the Hit After New York Liberty’s Shock Exit
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the New York Liberty announced they were letting go of Brondello. “Thank you Coach Sandy, for bringing the Liberty its first championship and leaving an everlasting impact on the franchise.”
According to the New York Post, Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb issued a statement thanking Brondello. “We would like to thank Sandy Brondello for her everlasting impact on the New York Liberty,” Kolb said.
“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.”
Thank you Coach Sandy, for bringing the Liberty its first championship and leaving an everlasting impact on the franchise.🏆 pic.twitter.com/cpf0pUGuuo
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 23, 2025
New York picked up where it left off from last season when they began their 2025 campaign. They racked up a franchise-best, nine-game winning streak. However, injuries played a major role as they wobbled for the remainder of the season. They managed to hang in as the fifth seed, but were thoroughly outplayed by the Phoenix Mercury.
Earlier, Brondello stressed she was “proud” of the group despite their disappointing exit. “We faced a lot of adversity this year, which happens in pro sports, but we left it all out there,” she defended the side. “And that’s all you can ask of a team.” Known for excellent player management skills, Brondello’s ouster comes as a major blow for the team.
The Liberty missed the services of stars Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Breanna Stewart at various stages in the regular season, as the team had players constantly in and out of the injury list.
There is no official word on who Brondello’s successor will be. But with the Liberty making a massive call on firing the head coach days after their exit, it remains to be seen if they make the move for a big-name coach. It also raises the question of whether the front office might look to break up its core as it tries to get its hands on the silverware.
