It’s been one other offseason of large teaching turnover within the WNBA. The Seattle Storm let go of Noelle Quinn, the New York Liberty opted to not renew Sandy Brondello’s contract, and the Dallas Wings fired Chris Koclanes after one season.
As well as, each of the WNBA’s enlargement groups — the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fireplace — every started (and concluded) their very own head coach searches.
Now, only a few weeks into the offseason, just one head coach place stays open: the Liberty’s.
The Storm employed former Liberty assistant coach Sonia Raman, the Wings chosen longtime South Florida coach Jose Fernandez, and the Fireplace opted for Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Alex Sarama. The Tempo, in the meantime, rapidly picked up Brondello herself and formally launched her on Tuesday morning.
New York stays seeking Brondello’s alternative.
Per Madeline Kenney of the New York Submit, the Liberty have interviewed and regarded former Nets assistant Will Weaver, Mercury affiliate head coach Kristi Toliver, and Rockets G League coach Joseph Blair. Raman was beforehand within the operating, too, however accepted the Storm place final month.
Based on Kenney, Lakers assistant Lindsey Harding was additionally thought of a candidate, and the Liberty have interviewed a number of different unnamed coaches.
A more in-depth have a look at the potential Liberty coach candidates
Assuming the listing has primarily narrowed to Will Weaver, Kristi Toliver, and Joseph Blair, let’s check out what every candidate would deliver to a Liberty group seeking to contend for a title.
Weaver is presently a training advisor for the Charlotte Hornets and is a longtime NBA assistant coach with stints with the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and Houston Rockets. He was additionally the G League Coach of the Yr in 2019 and beforehand served as an assistant coach for the Australian nationwide basketball group. Weaver has been within the combine for head teaching positions earlier than and was a runner-up for the Oklahoma Metropolis head teaching job in 2020.
Toliver is a former WNBA level guard who performed abroad for many of her profession after being chosen because the No. 3 general choose in 2009. She served as an NBA assistant coach from 2018 to 2023, first with the Washington Wizards (2018-2020) after which with the Dallas Mavericks (2021-2023). For the previous two years, she’s served because the affiliate head coach of the Phoenix Mercury below Nate Thibbets. Toliver serves as one of the vital skilled assistant coaches within the WNBA and has broadly been thought to be a head coach candidate.
Blair is a former skilled basketball participant who has been within the teaching world since 2013. At the moment the pinnacle coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers within the G League, Blair beforehand served as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Washington Wizards. He’s now part of the Houston Rockets group, however has lengthy been
The Liberty teaching search is anticipated to return to an in depth within the coming days. Who the franchise chooses to go along with stays to be seen, however expectations will probably be sky-high from Day 1.
