By John "Woods" Armwood III
When Sandy Brondello first accepted the head coaching job with the New York Liberty in January 2022, she inherited a franchise with ambitions it could only partially fulfill. Four years later, she leaves having reshaped what’s possible — not just wins and losses, but identity, belief, and the kind of momentum that ripples far beyond the hardwood.
From Phoenix to New York: A Proven Winner
Brondello came to New York on a foundation already built elsewhere — years as a player, years as a coach in Phoenix (including the 2014 WNBA title), international success with Australia’s Opals.
Her hiring was met with hope. Not as a Cinderella story, but as someone who had lived and breathed WNBA pressure, who had coached at the highest levels. The Liberty leadership and ownership believed she could blend star power, veteran leadership, and young fire into a championship formula.
Rising Heights: Building a Championship Culture
What Brondello achieved in New York was historic.
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Record Wins & Consistency: Over four seasons, her record stood at 107-53, the best in franchise history. The Liberty made the playoffs every year under her watch.
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Finals & Championships: In 2023, the Liberty powered its way to the Finals for the first time in two decades; in 2024, they finally claimed the championship — the first in Liberty history.
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Breaking Records: Under her leadership, the team recorded two back-to-back 32-8 regular seasons (2023 & 2024), the best regular-season records in Liberty history.
Brondello didn’t just win. She helped shift expectations. The Liberty went from a franchise yearning for relevance to a model of what elite, championship-level performance looks like in the modern WNBA.
Her Impact Off the Stat Sheet
Beyond wins, Brondello’s presence changed the culture:
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Leadership in Adversity: In 2025, injuries struck hard — stars like Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu missed time. The season slipped from preseason favorites to a first-round playoff exit. But throughout, players praised Brondello for keeping the group together, staying resilient, and navigating the chaos.
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Trust & Player Growth: She earned loyalty and respect. After losses, her players spoke of her as more than a coach; they saw a leader who believed in them, pushed them, but also shielded them when things got rough. Her ability to blend veteran stars with emerging talent and get them all performing was a hallmark of her tenure.
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Raising the Bar: Expectations in New York shifted under Brondello. The fans, the media, the organization—all began to believe a title was not something distant, but something very reachable. A standard. And she delivered.
The Parting: Why It Hurts
As of September 23, 2025, the Liberty announced they would not renew Brondello’s contract for the 2026 season. For many, this feels abrupt. One year after the City celebrated its first pro basketball championship (for the Liberty), the head coach who got them there is stepping away.
Part of the pain comes from how quickly expectations soared: a championship win, followed by another playoffs campaign. But injuries and inconsistency derailed the title defense. A first-round exit in 2025, despite being loaded with star talent, made the margin for error razor-thin.
What She Leaves Behind
Sandy Brondello’s legacy in New York is secure. These are some of what she leaves behind:
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A championship pedigree for a franchise that had never had it.
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A belief among players and fans that excellence isn’t occasional, but expected.
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Proof that with smart leadership, strong culture, and big personalities, the Liberty can compete at the very top.
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An elevated standard of what coach-player trust looks like under pressure.
Looking Forward
Now, the Liberty begin a new search. Can the next coach maintain what Brondello built? Will they preserve the culture, keep pushing for consistency, recover from injuries, and still chase titles?
Meanwhile, Sandy Brondello will almost certainly be in demand. Few coaches in WNBA history have her resume: multiple titles, countless playoff runs, international success, and a record of forging champions. Where she goes next, her imprint will be felt.
Her time in New York maybe has come to an end, but Sandy Brondello’s imprint on the Liberty—and the city’s basketball soul—will long outlast the final buzzer of her last game. As the lights dim for her era here, the echoes of that championship, those record wins, and those moments of transcendent basketball will continue to inspire.