Chris DeMarco is the latest WNBA coach this cycle to get the ax after leading the New York Liberty to a mediocre 28-18 record in his lone season.
In September, the Los Angeles Sparks fired Lynne Roberts after she finished the second of a four-year deal with a team option in Year 5. Just two job openings represent a drastic change from the eight seats that were available after the 2024 season and five last year. However, sources around the league believe the cycle may not be done. Those sources spoke on condition of anonymity to protect relationships.
Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb is under pressure to nail his fourth coaching search in his seven-year tenure because he missed hiring DeMarco. The need to maximize Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu's championship window adds weight.
All three are under contract through the 2028 season, making it more pertinent for Kolb to hire a candidate who can win now. The Liberty could target a highly regarded college candidate or tap into some familiar names they interviewed from the NBA and WNBA space last year.
The Liberty's search is only just beginning, but here is a list of people who could receive consideration:
Toliver was a finalist last year and has received high praise from Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts, who has repeatedly said she's ready for a head coach role. The question is whether Toliver, a 39-year-old who hasn't been a head coach, is the right person for a win-now team.
White has one more guaranteed year on her current contract with the Fever. However, as the franchise searches for a new general manager, it's unclear whether that person will come and clean house. Her best season as a head coach in the WNBA was in 2024 when she led the Connecticut Sun to a 28-12 record before they were eliminated in the semifinals. White has the experience the Liberty will want, but her availability and whether she would be interested in moving back to the East Coast from the Midwest pose real hurdles.
Wade was among the candidates considered for the Toronto Tempo job last cycle. The former championship-winning coach and GM of the Chicago Sky left the organization in 2023 for an assistant job with the Toronto Raptors. The question isn't Wade's experience or skill; it's his reputation in the league after leaving so abruptly for the NBA.
The Liberty spoke to Harding during last year's search. Selected No. 1 by the Mercury in 2007, Harding has WNBA experience and a lengthy coaching resume. She was named G League Coach of the Year in 2024 after leading the Stockton Kings to a 24-10 record. She's served as an assistant on JJ Redick's staff the past two seasons.
Boucek has been an assistant in the NBA since 2017, but before that, she had a lengthy coaching career in the WNBA, including as Seattle Storm head coach during Stewart's first two seasons. Boucek has always maintained how much she loves working on Rick Carlisle's staff, but for the right opportunity, we could see Boucek back in the WNBA.
Lawson is fresh off a FIBA Women's World Cup gold medal win where she coached Stewart, who finished the tournament as MVP. She played 13 seasons in the WNBA during which she won a championship with the Sacramento Monarchs. She was a Boston Celtics assistant during the 2019-2020 season. She enters her seventh season with the Blue Devils with a 124-50 record.
Powell has a lengthy resume as an assistant coach, starting as an assistant with the Miami Heat's G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, in 2016. He was elevated to head coach in 2021 before leaving to become a player development coach for the Heat in 2024. Powell has spent the previous two seasons as one of the lead assistants for Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase.
January, 39, continues to surface as a young candidate to watch in head coach searches. Her professional-level experience is limited, considering she retired after the 2022 season. She's likely not the right candidate for the Liberty, but a team in rebuild mode could tap her.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic .
New York Liberty, WNBA
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