Whenever a team enters the season as the defending champion, fans, players, and management hope for a repeat. But when that hope ends with a first-round playoff exit, the common, and often easiest response is a coaching change. After the New York Liberty fell to the Phoenix Mercury in the opening round, head coach Sandy Brondello was dismissed.

This decision comes as quite a shock, as not even a year ago, Sandy Brondello led the team to its first-ever WNBA championship. Moreover, she had significant backing from her star players, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. In fact, when the question about Sandy coming back next year was asked, Breanna Stewart had a hilarious “what the f—“ reaction before giving her full support to the Australian coach.

While it’s fair to say the New York Liberty’s title defense was underwhelming, injuries played a major role in derailing their season after such a strong start, the best in franchise history. The team began the season on fire, winning its first nine games. But just a few games in, 2024 Finals MVP Jonquel Jones suffered an injury that sidelined her. From that point on, the Liberty struggled to keep their full roster intact. Eventually, the focus shifted from playoff seeding to prioritizing player health.

Still, things didn’t improve much. In overtime of Game 1 in the first round, Breanna Stewart sprained her MCL. She didn’t miss any games, but it was obvious she wasn’t at full strength. This opened the door for Satou Sabally to dominate in Games 2 and 3. Fans criticized Sandy Brondello for not making the necessary adjustments throughout the series, but nothing seemed to work.

However, despite their early exit, the decision to sack Sandy Brondello is a surprise to say the least. After all, Brondello’s track record is impressive. Over 13 seasons, she has guided every team she’s led to the playoffs, a feat unmatched by any other WNBA coach. Her career record of 269–181 spans stints with three franchises, including postseason appearances with San Antonio (before the Stars became the Aces), Phoenix, and New York.

During her four-year tenure with the Liberty, Brondello became the franchise’s all-time leader in wins, posting a 107–53 record. She took over in 2022 and immediately improved the team, adding four more wins than the previous season. By 2023, the Liberty had made it to the Finals, falling to Las Vegas, and a year later, they captured the championship by defeating Reeve’s Lynx.

And not to forget that both Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu had shown their full support for her. During the post-game press conference, Stewie had said, “To anybody that kinds questions Sandy… she has our back and we have hers.” While the comments were certainly reassuring at the time, less than a week later, the front office made the decision and sacked her. But after so much support and a recent championship, why exactly did the New York Liberty take to decision to part ways with her?

Why did the New York Liberty fire Sandy Brondello?

Letting go of a coach who is popular with star players and just led the team to its first-ever championship was far from an easy decision. But in professional sports, tough choices are sometimes necessary. While the players may have supported the coach, the fans’ reaction told a different story.

In the Liberty’s final game of the season, many fans began leaving as early as the third quarter, even though the game was close. At that point, the Phoenix Mercury held a slim 60-59 lead. The walkout dealt a blow to the team, which couldn’t mount a comeback. While this may have been the final straw, it wasn’t the first time fans had expressed concern about Sandy Brondello’s coaching.

In Games 2 and 3 of the series, where Satou Sabally dominated, fans were active on social media, criticizing Sandy for her lack of adjustments. Many believed that this failure to adjust was a key reason the team might need a new voice to move the roster forward.

Regardless of whether letting her go proves to be the right move, Brondello’s departure opens a significant opportunity for potential coaches. So far, no concrete reports have emerged about her successor, though one name that is likely to draw interest is Dawn Staley. Whether the chance to lead a talented team like the Liberty would be enough to lure her away from South Carolina remains uncertain.