Liberty part ways with Brondello after series loss to Mercury

After winning Game 1 in Phoenix against the Mercury on Sept. 14, New York dropped Game 2 in lopsided fashion on Sept. 17, sending the series back to the desert. Despite a standout performance from an injured Breanna Stewart, it wasn’t enough to prevent elimination in Game 3 on Sept. 19.

“We would like to thank Sandy Brondello for her everlasting impact on the New York Liberty,” New York general manager Jonathan Kolb said in a press release. “… We wish Sandy the very best in her next chapter.”

After Game 3, Stewart was asked about the possibility of Brondello leaving the Liberty. Stewart appeared perplexed by the question and whispered, “What the f—?”

“To anybody that kinda questions [Brondello] being here, this is a resilient group,” Stewart said. “And she has our back and we have hers. The way that she continued to deal with the cards she was dealt was incredible. It wasn’t easy for anybody, but she came in every day with a positive attitude and a mindset to put in our best positions possible.”

Brondello was named head coach before the 2022 season and helped lead the team to the WNBA Finals in 2023 and a championship in 2024. However, expectations were high this season, with the Liberty falling short despite finishing with a winning record and making the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year under her leadership.

The former Liberty coach ends her tenure as the winningest head coach in franchise history and the first to lead the team to its first championship.

The New York Liberty now begin the process of finding their next head coach before the 2026 season.