Liberty Coach Fired: Next NY Candidates

Here’s a breakdown of the key ⁣points from the provided⁣ text, focusing on the New York Liberty coaching search and the broader WNBA coaching landscape:

Key Takeaways Regarding the New York Liberty Coaching ​Search:

* ⁣ Brondello’s Firing: The Liberty ⁤fired Sandy ⁤Brondello, a triumphant coach who won championships with both​ Phoenix and New York.
* ‍ Concerns ‍about Timing: There’s​ concern ⁢the Liberty ​didn’t have a clear replacement in‍ mind before letting Brondello go, which is seen as a risky⁤ strategy.
* ​ Potential Candidates:

⁢ * NBA Assistants: the Liberty might target experienced former WNBA head coaches now working as ⁢NBA assistants, specifically mentioning James Wade (toronto Raptors) and others.
​ ⁤ * College Coaches: High-level college coaches are also being considered, with Lindsay Gottlieb⁣ (USC) and Kara lawson (Duke) highlighted‌ as top targets due to their NBA assistant experience.
* Dawn staley (Long ‌Shot): Dawn Staley⁢ of South ​Carolina is mentioned,⁢ but considered a difficult hire due to her current position.

Broader WNBA Coaching Landscape:

* Expanding Candidate Pool: The pool of WNBA coaching candidates ‍is becoming more diverse,⁣ including coaches with experience from college, the NBA, and a growing number of former WNBA players.
* College-to-WNBA Trend: ⁣karl Smesko’s success with the Atlanta Dream after a college ⁤career suggests the WNBA is becoming more appealing to college coaches.
* Former Players Entering ⁢Coaching: More former WNBA players are transitioning into coaching roles (e.g., Lindsay Whalen).
* Lack of Black Women Head Coaches: A significant concern is the current lack of Black women in head coaching positions, despite Black women making‌ up the majority of WNBA players. Two were fired last season and one this season.

The article then transitions to discussing what might be next for Sandy Brondello.