On September 23, 2025, the New York Liberty made a stunning move: they declined to renew the contract of head coach Sandy Brondello, ending her four-year run — which included the franchise’s first-ever WNBA title in 2024 and a 107–53 overall record. Despite her accomplishments, New York’s title defense was derailed by injuries, roster instability, and a surprising first‐round exit.

The decision sent ripples across the league and sparked immediate speculation: where might Brondello land next? Three likely possibilities stand out — including two expansion franchises — each offering a different calculus of risk, reward, and fit.

Toronto Tempo

As a brand-new expansion team, the Toronto Tempo represents a blank canvas. Expansion franchises often hunt for proven leaders who can establish identity, draw free agents, and build a culture from day one. Brondello’s championship pedigree would give immediate credibility to the Tempo’s coaching search. Sources already suggest Toronto has expressed serious interest in her. She would have autonomy over roster building, drafts, and setting the team’s stylistic tone — but also must shoulder the heavy burden of establishing a franchise in a competitive league without an existing core.

Seattle Storm

Returning to a storied franchise with a strong fan base, the Seattle Storm could be an attractive landing spot. Seattle also fired its head coach Noelle Quinn this offseason, and the job is open. Brondello has history coaching or playing against several members of Seattle’s broader network, and she’s rostered enough experience handling star talent to manage a contender again. If the Storm aim to re-enter title contention quickly, she is a logical bet: a veteran who has led teams in high-stakes environments. The risk is less about pedigree and more about expectations — Seattle doesn’t offer the same “build from scratch” freedom, and the pressure to win would be immediate.

Portland Fire

Another expansion franchise, the Portland Fire is entering the WNBA at the same time as Toronto, and also hasn’t yet named a head coach. Taking on Portland would share many of the same incentives as Toronto: control over roster design, culture creation, and growth potential. But Portland may offer different market dynamics or regional advantages (West Coast recruiting, coaching pipelines) that appeal to Brondello. It would be a risk — expansion woes are real — but for a coach of her reputation, the upside of shaping a new team might outweigh the uncertainties.

Weighing the Paths

Brondello’s new opportunity will come down to what she values most: immediate contention, long-term control, or legacy building.

• Tempo and Fire offer maximum freedom but a steep uphill climb in talent development and franchise groundwork.
• Storm offers a more stable environment, existing infrastructure, and a chance to win faster — but with less control and higher expectations from the start.

Given her track record of turning around staffs and guiding All-Star rosters, Brondello is likely to attract multiple suitors. It wouldn’t be surprising to see her take on one of these three roles (or others) shortly, positioning herself once again among the elite coaching minds in the WNBA.

Where do you think Sandy will end up, let me know your thoughts down below.