With the curtain officially falling on the New York Liberty’s 2025 season, the franchise is preparing for a shake-up. Despite leading the team to its long-awaited 2023 championship, head coach Sandy Brondello could be on her way out. The move comes as a surprise to many, especially with several players publicly backing her following the Liberty’s postseason exit. Still, in the unpredictable world of the WNBA, change often comes swiftly.

The search for the next Liberty head coach is already the hottest topic in basketball circles. Among others, Dawn Staley appears to be the name at the top of the list. The South Carolina legend was linked with the New York Knicks, even admitting she would have considered the job had an offer materialized. That openness to the professional ranks makes her a serious contender, and it is no secret that the Liberty would love to bring her in. However, there are others in contention apart from Staley

Currently, there are five forerunners for the New York Liberty’s head coach position:

• Dawn Staley
• Noelle Quinn
• Brianna January
• Tanisha Wright
• Teresa Weatherspoon

Noelle Quinn

Looking at the possible lineup, all these names carry a lot of weight in the WNBA. Noelle Quinn, recently out as the head coach of the Seattle Storm, can also be considered a potential replacement. As head coach, Quinn accumulated a regular-season record of 97-89, the second-most wins in Seattle Storm head-coaching history. She led the team to the playoffs in four of her five seasons at the helm. Her best regular-season performance came in 2024 when the Storm went 25-15.

Brianna January

Assistant coach of the Indiana Fever, Brianna January, also makes a strong case for herself. The Fever are currently on a dream run in the postseason, beating past Atlanta, something the New York Liberty would have wanted against the Mercury. January’s specialty lies in defense, which has been there since her playing career.

January earned seven All-Defensive Team selections, showing consistent elite defense. Already experienced in coaching roles at Arizona State, Connecticut Sun, and the G League, her latest success with Indiana boosts her ranking to get this esteemed job.

Tanisha Wright

If New York wants someone with more experience, Tanisha Wright steps right in with her 9 years (5 in the WNBA). She was an assistant coach in Las Vegas (2020) before serving as the head coach of the Atlanta Dream for three seasons (2021-2024). This year, she served as an assistant for the Chicago Sky under Tyler Marsh. She knows the WNBA inside out and can be an excellent replacement for New York.

Teresa Weatherspoon

If the New York Liberty looks toward Chicago for inspiration, Teresa Weatherspoon stands out as the stronger choice over Wright. At Louisiana Tech (2009–2014), she built a 99–71 record (.582 win rate), captured two Western Athletic Conference regular-season titles, and claimed the 2010 WAC Tournament crown. Her resume also includes three years as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Pelicans, a stint as head coach of the Chicago Sky. Most recently, she was leading Unrivaled’s Vinyl club last winter.

A Liberty icon frequently spotted at Barclays Center, Weatherspoon feels like a natural fit should she pursue a head-coaching return in New York. Whether it is Dawn Staley or any other legend, for now, the final decision rests with the Liberty front office. But all eyes are on who will step in to lead a roster built to contend for another title. However, parting ways with Brondello might not be what the Liberty players would have expected.

New York Liberty players were in full support of Sandy Brondello

After leading the Liberty to a league-best 32-8 record in 2024, the team slipped to a fifth seed in 2025. However, this in no way paints Brondello in the wrong light. The now former Liberty head coach has carried her team to the playoffs for the past three years, with the last two until the championship finals. But the front office felt otherwise.

As general manager, Jonathan Kolb said, “We would like to thank Sandy Brondello for her everlasting impact on the New York Liberty. Sandy finishes her tenure in New York as the winningest coach in franchise history, and she took us to never-before-seen heights as the first head coach to lead the Liberty to a championship.”

With Brondello leading the charge, the Liberty went 107-53 in four seasons. However, being the best coach for the franchise also could not save her. One first-round exit does not warrant an exit. This sentiment was shared by the Liberty players.

After New York lost to Phoenix in the first round, a sharp question came Breanna Stewart’s way. “What would you say to those who questioned whether Sandy should be here next year to coach you guys again?” a reporter had asked. The New York Liberty player was taken aback by this question. With Brondello present there, she responded with a “What the f—?” to express her surprise. But the worst has been done. Although Sandy Brondello has three spots to pick from for her next destination as the Seattle Storm, the Portland Fire, and the Toronto Tempo are all looking for head coaches.