WNBA Moves: New Coaches for the 2026 Season
After the 2025 season, several WNBA teams have made significant changes to their coaching staffs. The Dallas Wings, New York Liberty, and Seattle Storm have decided to part ways with their head coaches, opening up new opportunities for the 2026 season. With the addition of expansion teams Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, the league will have five vacancies for the 2026 season. The last vacant spot was filled on Friday, when the Liberty named Chris DeMarco, assistant coach of the Golden State Warriors, as their new coach. DeMarco becomes the third NBA-experienced coach to be hired as a WNBA head coach this offseason.New York Liberty: Chris DeMarco Takes the Reins
The New York Liberty team announced the hiring of Chris DeMarco as their new head coach on November 21st. DeMarco replaces Sandy Brondello, who left the team on September 23rd. DeMarco, who spent the last 13 years with the Warriors, where he was part of four NBA championships, served mainly as the team’s defense manager, in addition to working individually with players like Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole. In addition, DeMarco is the head coach of the Bahamas national basketball team, where Jonquel Jones, a Liberty player, plays.How Does DeMarco Fit in with the Liberty?
DeMarco can use his experience with the long-standing Golden State stars in New York. Sabrina Ionescu, with her long-distance shooting ability, and Breanna Stewart, with her versatility in playmaking and defense, are key to the team.Brondello, who was hired in December 2021, had a record of 107-53 in four seasons and led the team to the WNBA title in 2024.Sandy finishes her tenure in New York as the winningest coach in franchise history, and she led us to heights never before seen as the first coach to take the Liberty to a championship. We wish Sandy the best in her next chapter.
Jonathan Kolb, General Manager of the Liberty
Toronto Tempo: Sandy Brondello Takes the Helm
Sandy Brondello was introduced on November 4th as the coach of the Toronto Tempo, establishing a clear vision for the franchise: to build a world-class team that competes at the highest level. Brondello emphasized the importance of creating a strong and dynamic culture, based on clear and consistent values. Brondello, with two WNBA championships under her belt and a regular season record of 452-271, brings competitive credibility to the Tempo, which will begin playing in 2026. Her knowledge of the WNBA and international basketball will be fundamental to the construction of the roster. The Tempo will play their games at the Coca Cola Coliseum in Toronto, as well as two regular season games in Montreal and two in Vancouver.
Seattle Storm: Sonia Raman Takes the Helm
On October 24, the Seattle Storm announced Sonia Raman as their new head coach. Raman, former assistant coach of the New York Liberty, replaces Noelle Quinn, who was dismissed after Seattle’s elimination in the first round of the playoffs. Raman, with experience as an assistant in both the WNBA and the NBA, is tasked with improving the team’s performance, especially on offense, and developing a core led by Dominique Malonga, the second draft pick. Raman follows in the footsteps of Natalie Nakase as the second Asian-American coach in the WNBA and will be the first of Indian descent.Dallas Wings: Jose Fernandez at the Helm
On October 23, the Dallas Wings announced Jose Fernandez as their new coach. Fernandez, coming from college basketball (South Florida), takes over the leadership of a team that includes Paige Bueckers and a lottery pick in 2026. Fernandez, with 25 seasons at USF, will have the challenge of leading the Wings to success, following in the footsteps of other college coaches who have achieved good results in the WNBA. Koclanes was fired after a single season with Dallas, where the team had a 10-34 record, tied for the worst in the league.
