Sandy Brondello Set to Be Toronto Tempo's First Head Coach

Sandy Brondello is expected to be named the first head coach of the Toronto Tempo, a person familiar with the hire said Wednesday, roughly a month after the New York Liberty parted ways with her. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made. The Tempo are an expansion franchise that will play in Toronto and intend to host home games at Coca‑Cola Coliseum.

Brondello arrives with a long WNBA résumé. She spent four seasons with the Liberty, going 107‑53 and becoming the winningest coach in franchise history, leading New York to consecutive Finals appearances and the franchise's first championship in 2024. Before joining the Liberty, she coached the Phoenix Mercury for eight seasons, winning a title in her first year in Phoenix. Her career includes repeated playoff appearances and more than a decade of head coaching experience in the league.

The Liberty announced last month that they would not renew Brondello's contract. Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said the move was not punitive or a reaction to recent results but was made in the interest of "evolution and innovation," a change the team determined was needed. New York finished a...