Liberty and Sparks seek new head coaches after parting ways with current staff

The 2026 WNBA season is over, and two of the league's largest markets are looking for new head coaches.

The New York Liberty announced on Monday that they have parted ways with Chris DeMarco. This decision came just days after the Golden State Valkyries won the championship in a seven-game finals series. DeMarco previously worked as an assistant for the Golden State Warriors. The Liberty had won the title in 2024 under Sandy Brondello, but they released her the following year after a first-round playoff exit.

DeMarco guided the Liberty to a 26-18 record during the regular season. The team captured the Commissioner's Cup in late June and secured the No. 8 seed. They then completed a historic first-round sweep of the No. 1 seed, Minnesota. However, Atlanta eliminated New York in the semifinals. A controversy emerged during the end of the second semifinal game when DeMarco did not use a final reset timeout in overtime. He expected to return for a second season, but the team's three key stars did not grant him a vote of confidence.

Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones were the players who did not support DeMarco's return. Stewart spoke after the elimination, saying she firmly believed the roster had the talent to win a championship. She expressed regret over the missed opportunity. General Manager Jonathan Kolb will now oversee the search for a third head coach for the franchise since 2021.

The Los Angeles Sparks are also in the market for a new leader. The team dismissed Lynne Roberts on September 25, ending her two-season tenure. Roberts had succeeded Curt Miller in 2024, becoming the second coach to move directly from college basketball to the WNBA. Her first year included the acquisition of free agent Kelsey Plum, but the Sparks finished 21-23 and missed the playoffs.

During the 2026 season, Roberts brought back veteran Nneka Ogwumike. She also traded Plum to Phoenix and former first-round pick Rickea Jackson to Chicago. The Sparks finished the year with a 16-28 record. Roberts finished her two years in Los Angeles with a combined mark of 37-50, extending the franchise's playoff drought to six years.

Both the Liberty and the Sparks are expected to finalize their hiring decisions before free agency begins at the start of 2027.