Sandy Brondello is starting over again, but she isn’t treating it like a reset. Less than a year after guiding the New York Liberty to their first WNBA championship, Brondello has become the first head coach of the Toronto Tempo, the league’s new expansion franchise set to debut next season.

The move reunites one of the WNBA’s most accomplished coaches with a fresh opportunity and a clean slate.

For Brondello, the abrupt end to her time in New York still feels surreal. The Liberty’s 2025 season began with title hopes and a 9–0 start that made them look unstoppable. But by the end of the summer, mounting injuries and uneven chemistry turned a promising campaign into a frustrating exit. New York stumbled to a 27–17 record and was eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Mercury — the same franchise Brondello once led to a championship.

The Liberty’s decision to part ways with their championship coach shocked much of the league. Brondello, though, told The Athletic’s Ben Pickman she understood when the time came.

“We faced a lot of adversity this past year, and it was hard without our main players there,” Brondello said. “I just kind of thought it was time, probably not as aligned as I would have hoped, and that goes both ways. This is a business, and if they feel I’m not the right person for the job, then that’s fine. That’s a part of the business, and they have to make that decision. And I felt like I needed a new challenge, too.”

Her words carried no bitterness — only the tone of someone ready for what comes next. For Brondello, that next step lies in Toronto, where she will shape the identity of the WNBA’s first Canadian franchise from the ground up.

The Tempo’s front office, led by general manager Monica Wright Rogers, already shares Brondello’s championship background. Wright Rogers, a two-time WNBA champion with the Minnesota Lynx, was named Toronto’s GM earlier this year and has been deeply involved in setting the tone for the organization’s launch.

Brondello said that connection was one of the biggest draws to accepting the job.

“Monica Wright Rogers is a championship player,” Brondello said. “You have two former players, in a GM and a head coach role, leading this team forward and making it a world-class franchise. We’ve both been on winning teams, we know what that looks like. So now the goal is to get there here.”

Brondello’s reputation for structure and player development makes her an ideal fit for an expansion team expected to emphasize long-term growth over immediate success. She previously built contenders in Phoenix and New York, earning a reputation for adaptability and steady leadership.

The challenge in Toronto, though, is different. There’s no established roster or championship core — only the promise of what could be. Yet, for Brondello, that’s exactly the appeal.

A coach who’s already conquered nearly every mountain in the WNBA now has a chance to build something entirely new. And this time, she’ll be doing it on her own terms.