Sandy Brondello out at New York Liberty

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Australian Opals head coach Sandy Brondello's contract with the New York Liberty will not be renewed for the 2026 WNBA season.

"We would like to thank Sandy Brondello for her everlasting impact," Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb said in a statement.

"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.

"We wish Sandy the very best in her next chapter."

Brondello, 57, lead the Liberty to the 2024 WNBA championship but was eliminated in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, losing 2-1 to the Phoenix Mercury. It was fourth season with the Liberty. Brondello led the Liberty to the finals in her second season and won the championship a year later.

She was also head coach of Caitlin Clark's WNBA All-Star Game team this year as recognition to the start of the Liberty's 9-0 title defense in 2025.

A reporter asked Breanna Stewart whether Brondello should remain at the helm of the Liberty in 2026 after they lost by a point to Phoenix in Game 3 on the weekend.

She uttered "what the [expletive] and then explained her position.

"To anybody that questions Sandy being here — this is a resilient group, and she has our back and we have hers," Stewart declared.

"The way she dealt with the cards she was dealt was incredible.

"It wasn’t easy for anybody, but she came in every day with a positive attitude and mindset to put us in the best positions possible.

"We’re not going to be a team that points fingers. A lot of us could have done better this season, but we’re still going to fight and show up for each other every single day.

"That’s what’s most important. We have Sandy’s back."

Brondello is the second WNBA coach not have her contract renewed after Seattle Storm parts ways with Australian Opals centre Ezi Magbegor's coach Noelle Quinn earlier this week.

Sandy Brondello's Coach Resume

• 2× WNBA champion (2014, 2024)
• WNBA Coach of the Year (2014)
• WNBA All-Star Game coach (2025)
• Commissioner's Cup champion (2023)
• Australian Basketball Hall of Fame (2010)
• Olympic Games Bronze Medal (2024)
• World Cup Silver Medal (2018) and Bronze Medal (2022).

Basketball Australia renewed Brondello's contract in February with the Australian Opals to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Brondello, who was first appointed head coach of the Opals in 2017, said she was thrilled to lead the women’s national program into another Olympic campaign.

"Coaching the Australian Opals is an honour, I never take the responsibility lightly," she said.

"Having represented at six Olympics as a player and now coach, the Opals is such a big part of my life and one that I am most proud of.

“To work with such motivated and talented athletes is such a joy and the success that we have had is such a testament to the wider team who make up the Opals.

"I look forward to continuing as Head Coach until Los Angeles in 2028 and I’m thankful to be entrusted with this responsibility.  

"The Opals long success is unprecedented, we know our competition is improving rapidly so we won’t be resting on our laurels, there is work to be done and I know that I speak for the entire Opals team, let’s get this."