Liberty GM eyes moving forward in letting Sandy Brondello go - ESPN

New York Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb says the decision not to exercise the option on former coach Sandy Brondello's contract was not a reactive one but instead «rooted in being proactive» based on the determination that «evolution and innovation is what is needed.»

«These decisions mark fork-in-the-road moments for organizations,» Kolb told reporters Thursday. «You can stand still or you can embrace change and move forward, and my commitment is to keep pushing the New York Liberty to new heights.»

Brondello was the winningest coach in franchise history and led the Liberty to their first championship in 2024. This year, an injury-marred summer saw the Liberty fall in the first round of the playoffs to the Phoenix Mercury as the No. 5 seed.

Brondello was the third coach in WNBA history to lead a team to a title then coach no more than the following season with that club, though the previous two weren't fired.

Kolb said the move was not solely based on this season's results — and that a coaching change was «very much under consideration last season.»

«This is not a results-based organization,» Kolb said. «This is not about not winning or winning. It's about how do we position ourselves to be at the top of the league in a real sustainable way as the league evolves.»

The coaching change was made after multiple players — including two-time MVP Breanna Stewart — went to bat for Brondello following the Liberty's Game 3 loss to the Mercury last week. Kolb said that while they «pride ourselves in being a player-led organization… there's a level of trust that leadership will make decisions… and ultimately, the decision's mine.»

Kolb said he has the «utmost confidence» that Stewart, 2020 No. 1 pick Sabrina Ionescu and 2024