Liberty Fire Chris DeMarco After 1 Season as No. 8 Seed Falls in WNBA Semifinals

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Nov 3

One year after replacing championship coach Sandy Brondello, New York dismissed Chris DeMarco on Tuesday despite his contract running through 2027.
A 26-18 regular season, a 2-8 midseason skid and a semifinal sweep by Atlanta as the No. 8 seed sealed the move, with late-game management and rotation decisions drawing scrutiny.
Game 2's overtime timeout blunder against the Dream became the clearest symbol of DeMarco's inexperience after he arrived from the NBA without a women's basketball background.
Jonathan Kolb now begins his fourth coaching search since 2019, with Briann January, Kara Lawson and Lindsey Harding among early names tied to the opening.
The firing could be the first of broader offseason changes for a roster built to contend after another title bid ended short, even with a Commissioner's Cup win and a first-round upset of Minnesota.