For a long time, all eyes in women’s basketball have been on Caitlin Clark, the star helping bring the WNBA into the spotlight. But now, a new team is stealing headlines — and it’s not just for what they’re doing on the court.
Since beating the Minnesota Lynx in the 2024 WNBA Finals to win their first title, the New York Liberty have become a symbol of what women’s sports can be. And now, head coach Sandy Brondello is speaking out about a huge off-court moment that has everyone talking.
Head Coach Sandy Brondello Is Proud of Her Team’s Latest Off-Court Achievement
According to The Athletic, the Liberty recently raised money at a $450 million valuation — the highest ever for a professional women’s sports team.
That number isn’t just big. It’s historic. And it shows how much people are starting to value women’s sports and the athletes who make it all happen. This isn’t just a basketball story — it’s a culture shift.
When Brondello was asked how she felt about the valuation, her nine-word answer said it all.
“It’s really about our ownership’s commitment since day one,” Brondello said in the interview.
But she didn’t stop there. She went on to share more about how much the moment means.
“I thought that was pretty cool. And I mean their investment. And, you know, obviously what our team does on the court, but what we do off the court as well, too. So pretty exciting. I think it’s great for the WNBA, and I’m sure it’s going to continue to grow over these next years as well,” she added.
Sandy Brondello reacts to the Liberty being valued at $450 million
"It's really about our ownership's commitment since day one" pic.twitter.com/uqyMda7mQ2
— New York Liberty Videos (@SNYLiberty)
And why wouldn’t she be proud? The Liberty’s new valuation beats the old record held by Chelsea F.C. Women. That soccer team was recently valued at $326 million after Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian invested $26.5 million for an 8% stake.
Now, the Liberty have topped that by over $100 million, showing just how far the WNBA has come — and how much further it can go.
Brondello isn’t just watching these big moments happen. She’s helping create them. Since becoming Liberty’s head coach in 2022, she’s led the team to new heights, including their first championship just two seasons later. With 246 career coaching wins, she’s a big reason this team keeps making history.
Brondello’s Message About the Team’s Mentality
May 22 was a huge day for the Liberty. First, the big news about their record valuation. Then, they backed it up with a strong win.
In their second regular-season game of 2025, New York crushed the Chicago Sky 99-74. They also set a new WNBA regular-season record with 19 made 3-pointers.
The message was clear: this team isn’t satisfied with last year’s title.
MORE: Who Owns the New York Liberty?
“We’re motivated. We wanted to celebrate. We had that, we had the ring ceremony, but we quickly just reset and moved on. What we did last year was great, but that’s last year. We have a little bit of a different team,” Brondello said.
“And, yeah, of course, we want to win another championship, but we know there’s areas we want to continue, keep getting better in. So we’re pretty focused,” she added.
Next up, the Liberty head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to face Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on May 24. If New York keeps playing with this kind of energy and mindset, they won’t just be winning games — they’ll be making more history.