Sandy Brondello Reportedly to Be Toronto Tempo's Inaugural HC After Liberty Exit

The Toronto Tempo reportedly found their first head coach.

Ben Pickman of The Athletic reported Wednesday that Sandy Brondello is expected to be named the Tempo's head coach ahead of their inaugural season. Brondello was available after the New York Liberty decided not to renew her contract following the 2025 campaign.

Given her level of success in New York, it was rather shocking Brondello was even available for Toronto.

"We would like to thank Sandy Brondello for her everlasting impact on the New York Liberty," Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said in a statement following the team's decision. "Sandy finishes her tenure in New York as the winningest coach in franchise history, and she took us to never-before-seen heights as the first head coach to lead the Liberty to a championship. We wish Sandy the very best in her next chapter."

While New York disappointed with a first-round exit this past season, it is just one year removed from winning the title during the 2024 campaign. It also reached the WNBA Finals in 2023 under Brondello.

In all, she went 107-53 during four seasons as the Liberty head coach.

Brondello was also the head coach of the Phoenix Mercury for eight years prior to joining New York and led the franchise to the 2014 WNBA title. Her resume also includes stops as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Sparks and San Antonio Silver Stars, as well as a one-year tenure as San Antonio's head coach in 2010.

In all, she is 271-181 with two championships during her head-coaching career.

This move gives the Tempo a well-regarded head coach with plenty of experience as they begin their first season in the WNBA.

But they will be under some pressure to live up to the expansion standard the Golden State Valkyries set in 2025 considering they made the playoffs in their first season. Head coach Natalie Nakase was also named the WNBA Coach of the Year for her efforts.