Teaching is a troublesome enterprise.
Noelle Quinn is out as head coach in Seattle, Sandy Brondello is out as head coach in New York — and the Storm and Liberty have turn into two of 4 WNBA groups looking for a brand new head coach forward of subsequent season (the league’s two enlargement groups, the Portland Fireplace and Toronto Tempo, are additionally within the combine).
There are numerous assistants, former gamers, and former head coaches who could possibly be within the combine to interchange Quinn and Brondello.
Let’s check out some potentialities:
Briann January, Indiana Fever assistant coach
Briann January performed within the WNBA for 14 years and completed her profession with the Seattle Storm. She has been within the WNBA for the final three seasons as an assistant, first with the Connecticut Solar and now with the Indiana Fever. January is broadly considered a future head coach, and could possibly be somebody who makes the same leap from assistant to go coach as Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase.
Tanisha Wright, Chicago Sky assistant coach
Tanisha Wright performed within the WNBA for 14 years, together with 10 for the Storm. She was an assistant on the Las Vegas Aces earlier than serving as the pinnacle coach of the Atlanta Dream for 3 seasons.
This 12 months, she served as an assistant for the Chicago Sky. Her familiarity with the Storm and former head teaching expertise make her an fascinating candidate for the Storm’s new head teaching function.
Teresa Weatherspoon, former Chicago Sky head coach
Photograph by Mike Lawrie/Getty Pictures
Teresa Weatherspoon is an all-time nice who performed eight years within the WNBA — and earned 5 All-Star appearances throughout that point.
She beforehand coached Louisiana Tech, and served as an assistant coach within the NBA for the New Orleans Pelicans for 3 years. She served as the pinnacle coach of the Chicago Sky for one season earlier than being let go. Final winter, she coached Unequalled’s Vinyl membership. Her power in participant growth make her an fascinating candidate for the function.
Plus, Weatherspoon is a Liberty legend who is commonly seen on the sidelines at Barclays Heart. If she’s involved in a head coach return, New York looks as if an amazing match.
Rebekkah Brunson, Minnesota Lynx assistant
Brunson has served as an assistant for the Minnesota Lynx since 2020 after a embellished taking part in profession that noticed her win 5 WNBA titles. Her participant growth expertise could possibly be pivotal for a Seattle Storm roster with younger expertise.
Brunson hails from one among basketball’s best-run organizations, and her expertise teaching underneath Cheryl Reeve may place her nicely for a head coach alternative.
Latricia Trammell, Los Angeles Sparks assistant
Latricia Trammell is a long-time coach who served as a particular assistant for the Los Angeles Sparks this previous season. She joined the Sparks teaching employees in 2019 as an assistant and have become the Dallas Wing’s head coach in 2023. She was let go after two seasons.
Trammell is a defensive-minded coach who’d possible excel at maximizing the defensive skills of gamers like Gabby Williams and Dominique Malonga.
Nola Henry, Dallas Wings assistant
Nola Henry doesn’t have the identical expertise as a number of the different candidates on this pool, however has proven promise as a younger coach. She was a participant growth and assistant coach for the Los Angeles Sparks, and served as head coach for the primary time in Unequalled — main the Rose BC to a championship within the league’s inaugural season.
This previous 12 months, she was an assistant coach for the Dallas Wings underneath Chris Koclanes.
Kristi Toliver, Phoenix Mercury assistant
Photograph by G Fiume/Getty Pictures
Toliver at the moment serves as an assistant coach on the Phoenix Mercury, and was beforehand an assistant for the Washington Wizards (2018-2020) and Dallas Mavericks (2021-2023).
As a participant, she was a three-time WNBA All-Star and a two-time WNBA champion. She was the primary energetic WNBA participant to educate within the NBA. She’s but to be a head coach, however could possibly be well-positioned to make the leap.
