Following the conclusion of the 2026 WNBA season and the Golden State Valkyries’ championship run, the Los Angeles Sparks and the New York Liberty have both opened head coaching searches ahead of free agency in early 2027, ESPN reported.
The New York Liberty parted ways with head coach Chris DeMarco on November 3, days after Game 7 of the WNBA Finals. DeMarco, the former Golden State Warriors assistant coach, managed an up-and-down campaign defined by internal and external championship expectations. The franchise previously won a WNBA title under Sandy Brondello in 2024 before parting ways with her following a first-round playoff exit a year later.
Under DeMarco, New York opened the regular season at 13-12, secured the Commissioner’s Cup championship in late June, and finished the regular season with a 26-18 record to claim the No. 8 and final playoff seed. The squad pulled off a historic first-round sweep against 1-seed Minnesota before falling in a sweep to Atlanta in the semifinals. Controversial clock management at the end of Game 2—specifically failing to use a final reset timeout in overtime—marked a tense conclusion to the postseason run. DeMarco anticipated returning for a second season, but did not secure the same vote of confidence from star players Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones. Following elimination, Stewart stated that she “1,000%” believed the roster possessed the talent to capture a title and viewed the outcome as a missed opportunity. General manager Jonathan Kolb now faces the task of hiring the franchise’s third coach since 2021.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Sparks dismissed Lynne Roberts on September 25 following a two-year tenure devoid of playoff appearances, which extended the franchise’s postseason drought to six years. Roberts succeeded Curt Miller in 2024 as the second coach to leave the college ranks for the WNBA, stepping into a major rebuild. Her initial campaign featured the acquisition of free agent Kelsey Plum, resulting in a 21-23 record and a missed postseason. This past season saw veteran Nneka Ogwumike rejoin the roster, while the front office traded Plum to Phoenix and former first-round selection Rickea Jackson to Chicago. The Sparks concluded the season at 16-28, leaving Roberts with a combined 37-50 record across two seasons.
Both organizations intend to finalize their coaching appointments before free agency opens at the beginning of 2027.
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