It didn’t start with arenas or roaring crowds for Sandy Brondello. It started in the scorching sun of Queensland, Australia, lifting 20-foot-long water pipes, hauling heavy rocks, and sometimes steering a tractor, or even a pair of stubborn donkeys, while helping her father on his sugarcane farm. Every blister, every drop of sweat, every early morning built a grit and determination that would carry her far beyond those fields. That drive has forged an extraordinary, still-growing resume in basketball. 

And now, that will also include leading an expansion team.

Brondello, whose contract was not renewed by the New York Liberty, had been linked to several vacant coaching positions. And finally, it’s happening: the Toronto Tempo is expected to name her the franchise’s first-ever head coach. But are we surprised? Not even a bit. With the kind of talent she has, it was only a matter of time before the right position came calling.

A closer look at Sandy Brondello’s resume

At 57, Sandy Brondello stands as one of basketball’s most accomplished figures, a player-turned-coach whose impact has stretched far beyond Australia’s borders.

The playing days

Dribbling around on a small backyard court eventually turned into basketball becoming Brondello’s whole world. She kicked off her pro career in the WNBL, spent 10 seasons there, and quickly became one of the league’s standout stars. In 1998, Brondello made her way to America and joined the Detroit Shock after being selected in the fourth round of the WNBA draft. Her sharp shooting and veteran poise quickly stood out. The following year, she earned a place in the league’s inaugural All-Star Game, a rare feat for an international player at the time.

Her WNBA career included stops with the Miami Sol and the Seattle Storm, where she played alongside fellow Australians Lauren Jackson and Tully Bevilaqua. Known for her three-point accuracy, Brondello’s 41% shooting from beyond the arc still ranks among the best in league history.

Transitioning to the sidelines

When her playing days ended, Brondello’s second act began, this time from the sidelines. She began her journey in 2005 as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Silver Stars, before being promoted to head coach in 2010. And while her first stint as a head coach was short-lived, it laid the foundation for what was to come next. 

In 2013, Brondello took over as head coach of the Phoenix Mercury. Her first full season with the team in 2014 was one for the record books, which ended with the franchise’s third WNBA championship. And when her time in Phoenix ended in 2021, Brondello was quickly recruited by the New York Liberty.

Taking charge in January 2022, she brought stability and vision to a franchise eager to climb back as contenders. Across four seasons, she guided the Liberty to a 107–53 overall record, including consecutive 32–8 seasons in 2023 and 2024. The peak came in 2024, when New York captured its first-ever WNBA title. The following season, however, proved more turbulent. Injuries to the team’s core derailed momentum. Despite finishing 27–17, the Liberty fell to the Phoenix Mercury in the opening round of the playoffs.

Wearing & coaching the green and gold

For the Australian national team, the Opals, Brondello first did it as a player and then as a coach. 

• As a player: Four Olympics (two silver medals and one bronze), 302 international appearances,  third most-capped Australian player ever.
• As a coach: A bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics- the nation’s first Olympic podium finish in women’s basketball since 2012.

And now, she steps into another international market. And if history tells us anything, Toronto has always had a way of embracing its expansion franchises.

If anyone can do it, it’s Toronto

There’ve been endless debates and whatnot about how much Toronto really loves its sports. But let’s be real here. Canada’s culture isn’t something you can squeeze into a single stereotype. It’s huge, it’s diverse, and trying to label it under one narrative is not just impossible. And, honestly, pinning those assumptions on one city that barely represents the entire country? That just proves one doesn’t really know Toronto at all.

“Toronto sports fans are undeniably some of the most passionate fans in the world,” said MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley in a press release. And he’s not exaggerating. Ask any athlete who’s ever played there, and they’ll tell you the same. The city’s past proves it, too.

If you need a reminder, think back to the sea of people flooding the streets during the Raptors’ championship parade, an entire nation celebrating as one. Or, even better, take a look at what’s been happening lately in our own WNBA. Back in August, the W made its regular-season debut in Vancouver, marking a big first for Canada. Sure, the league had tested the waters with exhibition games before, but this was different….a real, official matchup. And the fans? They showed up big time.

Now, just imagine that kind of energy when Toronto finally gets a team of its own.

We know Natalie Nakase and the Valkyries have already set a pretty extraordinary bar, but if there’s one team that can match, or even top, that kind of buzz, it’s the Toronto Tempo, led by Sandy Brondello. Which brings us to why there couldn’t have been a better pick than her.

Nobody but Sandy Brondello

Okay, don’t hate me for saving the main meat for last, but I wanted to lay out the full picture first so we could cover the obvious pointers about her skills and experience. Now, let’s get to why this hire makes perfect sense.

Exactly what they needed!

Sandy Brondello knows international basketball like few others. Tempo General Manager Monica Wright Rogers summed up what they were looking for when she said, “Our head coach needs to understand that you’re going to be championing what this country [Canada] cares about.” She added that the coach would also need to act as a community ambassador, someone who can navigate the international basketball scene that Tempo will be part of, and help the players connect with fans.

While Wright Rogers couldn’t have known Brondello would be available after the season ended, Brondello checks every box. She understands fandom outside the U.S. and knows how to embrace it. 

Brondello brings credibility (and players)

But probably more than anything else, Brondello brings one key asset to Toronto: players. 

As an expansion coach, you’re going to be tasked with recruiting free agents before your organization has earned much credibility. That’s where Brondello’s experience becomes invaluable. She’s coached some of the league’s best, played at the highest level herself, and knows how to spot talent, which could give Tempo a real edge when it comes to attracting free agents.

This comes at a critical time. 

Unless the ongoing CBA negotiations cause changes, the Tempo and Fire are expected to participate in an expansion draft in the coming months. After that, they’ll step into the open free agency market. Having Brondello on staff could help Toronto secure a few key players in a landscape that’s wide open, competitive, and full of potential. And an offseason that is set to be the wildest, with more than 100 players (including many big stars) in free agency.

Her track record speaks for itself. 

Back in 2013, she nabbed DeWanna Bonner via trade, before free agency was the powerhouse it is today, and she’s repeatedly shown a knack for re-signing key role players. More recently, she made savvy midseason moves like bringing in Emma Meesseman in 2025, the EuroLeague champion.

So yes, Brondello has done this before, and she knows what it takes to build a winning roster from scratch. With almost all the league’s top stars now in free agency, having someone with her eye for talent could be the difference between a promising start and just another expansion team debut.  For now, we wait to see Sandy (the builder, the recruiter, and the mentor) in action.