Coaching Carousel Rocks the WNBA: Analysis of Key Changes
The 2025 WNBA season marks the beginning of a new era with significant changes on the benches of several teams. The Dallas Wings, New York Liberty, and Seattle Storm have decided to part ways with their head coaches, opening up a range of possibilities for the 2026 season. With the incorporation of the expansion teams Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, the league is preparing for a strategic restructuring.
The first move was by the Portland Fire, who hired Alex Sarama, assistant coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, as their head coach. Subsequently, Toronto Tempo announced the arrival of Sandy Brondello, who had previously left the Liberty in September. Finally, the Wings completed their search by signing Jose Fernandez, coming from college basketball.
Dallas Wings: A New Beginning with Jose Fernandez
The Dallas Wings, following the departure of Chris Koclanes, have chosen Jose Fernandez, a coach with a long career in college basketball. Fernandez arrives after 25 seasons at the University of South Florida. The challenge for Fernandez will be to guide a team with young talent, including Paige Bueckers, the Rookie of the Year in 2025, and a lottery pick for 2026.
The arrival of Fernandez marks the sixth coach for the Wings since 2018. The team hopes that Fernandez can replicate the success of Karl Smesko with the Atlanta Dream, who led them to a 30-14 record.
Toronto Tempo: Sandy Brondello Leads Expansion
The new WNBA team, Toronto Tempo, has chosen Sandy Brondello as their head coach. Brondello, with vast experience in the league, including two championships and a regular season record of 452-271, brings great credibility to the expansion team.
Brondello, who coached the Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty, will have the task of building a competitive team for Toronto, leveraging her knowledge of the WNBA and international basketball.
Portland Fire: Alex Sarama and an Innovative Approach
Alex Sarama, assistant coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, has been named coach of the Portland Fire. Sarama is recognized for his focus on CLA (Constraints-Led Approach), a training system that promotes adaptability and decision-making in pressure situations.
Sarama will seek to implement this system in the expansion team, with the aim of developing players who can adapt and make effective decisions on the court.
Analysis of Team Changes
These changes in the WNBA teams’ technical direction reflect a constant search for innovation and adaptation. Each coach brings their own philosophy and experience, seeking to take their teams to new levels of success. The 2026 season promises to be exciting, with new strategies and rivalries on the court.A month after parting ways with the New York Liberty, Sandy Brondello has found her next job as the coach of the Toronto Tempo, the first international WNBA team that begins playing in 2026.
New York Liberty
Following the departure of Sandy Brondello, who led the team to its first WNBA championship in 2024, the Liberty is seeking a new direction. Jonathan Kolb, the team’s general manager, explained that the decision was based on the need for “evolution and innovation” for the team’s future.
Brondello leaves the Liberty as the winningest coach in franchise history, with a record of 107-53 in four seasons. Before arriving in New York, she coached the Phoenix Mercury, winning a championship in 2014.
Seattle Storm
Noelle Quinn left her position as coach at Seattle Storm on September 21. Quinn had been an assistant in 2019, and took over as head coach in 2021. Quinn left with a regular season record of 97-89 and 4-8 in playoffs.
Quinn’s departure comes after a season in which the team did not meet expectations, despite the arrival of new players. The biggest challenge for Quinn’s replacement will be to improve the team’s offense.
