NO TIME TO WASTE
Plenty of work ahead for Libs and new coach
The Liberty started off the new year on a high note.
Officially naming Sandy Brondello as head coach was no doubt the biggest move as the team heads toward the 2022 season. The proven coach is exactly the kind of leader the Liberty needs as a franchise with just one playoff game in the last four seasons.
But the Liberty still has items to address before the season tips off on May 7.
ASSISTANT COACHES
When Walt Hopkins was canned in December, so were his assistants. The beloved Shelly Patterson, newbie coach Jackie Gemelos and Dustin Gray were unfortunate casualties of the switch.
One or two of those coaches could be asked to re-join under Brondello, but she likely has some other people in mind.
During her introductory press conference on Jan. 7, Brondello was asked if she might try to bring her husband, Chicago Sky assistant coach Olaf Lange, aboard. She didn’t give a direct answer, instead pivoting to say her family was excited for her new opportunity. She also said she and general manager Jonathan Kolb hadn’t yet started talking about staffing.
In the middle of her response, she also said, “you never know what the future holds.” So, it’s not an impossible thought.
Others she could turn to are former assistants with the Phoenix Mercury Julie Hairgrove and Chasity Melvin. It’s unlikely
Hairgrove would leave Phoenix for the Big Apple, seeing as her tenure has lasted well over 15 seasons through five different head coaches. Melvin, however, might be more amenable to a location change, having been with the Mercury just two seasons for her first WNBA coaching opportunity (she previously coached in the NBA G League).
FREE AGENCY
Free agents were allowed to talk to teams beginning Saturday, with signings able to occur starting on Feb. 1. The Liberty already has a pretty saturated roster with international players who’ve opted out of the last two seasons. That said, Kolb, as recently as last week, reiterated his commitment to improve the roster.
This year’s free-agent pool certainly is not one to be overlooked, especially since the Liberty isn’t yet a championship contender.
The list of top free agents includes Seattle’s Breanna Stewart, Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles and Washington’s Tina Charles, all former MVPs. Connecticut extended a core qualifying offer to 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones — the core designation can only be used once by a team and only on a veteran player who would otherwise be an unrestricted free agent. The offer is for a oneyear supermax deal. The designation also forbids players to negotiate with any other team, though they can negotiate with their own on a longer contract.
The list of 34 eligible free agents includes Las Vegas’ Liz Cambage, Seattle’s Jewell Loyd, Phoenix’s Sophie Cunningham, the Mystics’
Emma Meesseman and even the Liberty’s own Bec Allen. A’ja Wilson. The Aces already extended a qualifying offer to her on Friday.
The Liberty doesn’t have much cap space, but Kolb said he’s willing to trade some of his existing roster to clear cap space if that’s what’s needed. The Liberty currently has $196,530 in cap space, according to Spotrac.
It would make sense for the team to bring Allen back, especially given her ties to Brondello via the Australian senior national team, the Opals. The Liberty could also try to bring on Cambage, whom Brondello is familiar with also through the Opals. Cambage would upgrade the defense, particularly in the paint, where it gave up a league-high average 38.4 points per game last season.
WNBA DRAFT
The Liberty’s youngest talent already shows a bright, long future. The team drafted Sabrina Ionescu, Jaz Jones, Kylee Shook and Neah Odom with the No. 1, No. 12, No. 13 and No. 15 picks in 2020 and then Michaela Onyenwere and DiDi Richards at No. 6 and No. 17 in 2021. Jocelyn Willoughby was acquired during the 2020 draft, but was not picked by the Libs. All have made their mark on the team.
Brondello’s team holds the No. 5 and No. 29 picks in the 2022 draft.
Some of the notables in the incoming 2022 draft class include Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard, Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith, South Carolina’s Destanni Henderson, Kansas State’s Ayoka Lee, Louisville’s Emily Engstler and Iowa State’s Ashley Joens.