Chris DeMarco’s departure from the New York Liberty has sparked debate. His dismissal after only one season highlights how quickly things fell apart following Sandy Brondello’s exit. Brondello led New York to its first championship in 2024 and had the team performing as a true contender.
Under DeMarco, the team struggled to live up to that success. They barely made the playoffs with a 26-18 record as the eighth seed. Although they briefly energized fans by upsetting Minnesota, being swept by Atlanta in the semifinals served as a harsh reality check.
Jemele Hill criticized DeMarco’s appointment, accusing it of reflecting misogyny. She pointed out that giving an NBA assistant coach with no WNBA background the top job reveals a double standard—arguing a woman with similar qualifications would not even be considered for an NBA coaching role. Hill and Cari Champion made these points on the Flagrant & Funny podcast.
Jemele Hill stated, “I hate to say it, but this exposes the inherent gender bias. If a woman wanted to coach in the NBA or be an assistant, she would never be promoted to head coach without prior NBA experience. Even in the WNBA, there’s still misogyny that the league needs to confront.”
Cari Champion expressed confusion over Brondello’s firing, noting that questions about it remain unanswered and pointing out that her new team, the Toronto Tempo, is thriving. She also criticized the idea that an NBA coach should get a grace period to “figure things out” in the WNBA, especially since DeMarco admitted to not really following the league before taking the job—a stance Champion found embarrassing.
Women have made progress in the NBA, with figures like Becky Hammon serving as high-ranking assistants and others working in executive roles or officiating. However, no woman has yet been hired as a permanent NBA head coach.
Fan Take: This controversy shines a light on ongoing challenges around gender equity in professional basketball coaching. For WNBA fans, how the league addresses these issues could significantly impact the sport’s credibility and its commitment to fostering female leadership.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
