As the New York Liberty got knocked out in the first round, there were bound to be some strong reactions. But, head coach Sandy Brondello getting fired was not on many people’s bingo cards. Sure, the pressure is always high when you are coaching a team loaded with talent, but considering their injury issues, it would’ve been understandable to stick with her. But, it wasn’t to be. However, according to a WNBA insider, it wasn’t just the results that cost Sandy Brondello’s job.

On the latest episode of the Good Follow podcast, WNBA insiders Ros Gold-Onwude and Angel McCoughtry discussed the major factor that led to Sandy Brondello’s firing.

Explaining the inside information, Ros Gold-Onwude said, “I think the bigger message that we’re getting from the Liberty is that, and this is from the like Liberty organization and franchise who all those people up at the top. The message is that a first-round exit is not the standard. I will not cut it. Not with all that talent on the roster. Not with all those Finals MVPs on the roster. Liberty played with three finals MPVs. Not with the investment of $80 million practice facility coming. Not with the rising ticket prices that their fan base has been very vocal about, and the disappointment of that.”

On March 27, 2025, the New York Liberty also announced plans to build a new practice facility in a clear sign of their aggressive approach to winning championships. The 75000-square-foot facility was expected to cost around $80 million. The thinking from the franchise was that, being the defending champions and built to compete for the near future, this arena would increase the value of the franchise. However, after their early exit, the front office wanted to send a message.

The message: The New York Liberty are not going to settle for anything less than a deep playoff run. And if the team is not able to achieve that, not even your best players’ support will protect the coach. But it wasn’t just the increased investment by the ownership that increased the pressure. Throughout the season, the team had consistent effort and urgency issues. There were plenty of bizarre losses.

Ros Gold-Onwude said, “There were multiple times they did not come ready to play. There were some really bad head scratching losses, and perhaps you know, brass and the executive upstairs thought that it showed a lack of preparedness for a team with that much talent.” During one stage in their season, the New York Liberty were in the midst of a 4 game losing streak. To make matters much worse, two of these losses came against two of the worst teams in the league in the Dallas Wings and the Connecticut Sun. This showed a lack of focus that Ros Gold discussed.

Had the Liberty gone on to make a deep run, chances are these issues would have been ignored. But now, with the Liberty moving on from Sandy Brondello, she would certainly be looking to make a comeback as soon as possible.

Where Could Sandy Brondello Coach Next?

In the world of the WNBA, things move very quickly. Just a few days after being relieved of her duties, Sandy Brondello’s name is already being linked to some tempting coaching openings. Let’s look at some of the options that could be there for Sandy.

• Seattle Storm

Just a day after Sandy Brondello was fired, the Seattle Storm also let go of head coach Noelle Quinn. After yet another first-round exit, the management thought that a change in voice was needed. If things between Seattle and Sandy were to progress, it could be a great match. Seattle has a good roster with veterans such as Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, and Brittney Sykes. And they have a young talent in Dominique Malonga and Zia Cooke. If Sandy Brondello were to join Seattle, she could take them a step further than just first-round runs.

• Dallas Wings

Although it is not official yet, there is a good chance that there could be an opening at the Dallas Wings. The fan and many times it seems like Paige Bueckers, as well, are not happy with Chris Koclanes’ coaching. When you have a talent like Paige Bueckers, she needs a coach who can develop her to be among the legends. Not to mention, the Wings have the best odds to get the first pick yet again. The Dallas Wings would not want to lose another year of Paige Bueckers’ performances, so a coaching change seems like a matter of when and not if.

• Expansion Team

Usually, for a coach with a resume like Sandy Brondello’s, coaching an expansion team may seem like a big step down. But the way the Golden State Valkyries performed this season, the bar for any coming expansion team has been raised. Not to mention, coaching an expansion team can be a great experience that a coach like Sandy Brondello certainly could fancy. With two new teams set to join the league next year (Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo), there could be a lot of demand for a coach like Sandy.

While till now there are no solid reports about where Sandy Brondello might coach next, one thing is certain: for a coach like her, the demand is always going to be big. It’s just a matter of finding the right fit, and we won’t be missing Sandy from the sidelines for a long time.