The New York Liberty have named Chris DeMarco, formerly an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors, as their new head coach, the team announced on Wednesday. DeMarco brings 13 years of experience with the Warriors, where he served in various roles including player development coach and assistant, contributing to four NBA championship wins.
Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb expressed enthusiasm about the hiring, saying, “After careful consideration, we are thrilled to welcome Chris DeMarco as our head coach. Our goal throughout the process was to find a leader who can enhance our culture, establish a high-level system, and introduce a forward-thinking vision to advance the franchise on the court.”
DeMarco joins the growing number of WNBA coaches with NBA experience, alongside Alex Salama of Portland and Sonia Raman of Seattle, two of the five head coaches appointed this offseason. DeMarco stated, “I am deeply honored to join the Liberty and uphold this franchise’s commitment to excellence on the court and strong community connections. The chance to work with some of basketball’s finest players, supported by an exceptional front office and ownership, is a dream for any coach. I’m eager to build on the winning culture that makes the New York Liberty unique.”
This marks Kolb’s third coaching hire during his six years with the Liberty. Although much of New York’s roster consists of free agents, Kolb anticipates that key players Brianna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones will return after the season. Last season, the Liberty parted ways with Sandy Brondello shortly after a first-round playoff loss; Brondello had led the team to its first WNBA Championship in 2024 and has since been hired by Toronto’s expansion team.
DeMarco has also coached the Bahamas national team since 2019, which is notable as Jonquel Jones hails from the Bahamas. Additionally, DeMarco has experience playing in all four of the Warriors’ championship games.
Fan Take: This hiring signals an exciting infusion of NBA expertise into the WNBA, which could elevate the level of play and coaching strategies in the league. For fans, it’s a promising move that might accelerate the Liberty’s rise as a championship contender and inspire broader recognition for WNBA coaching talent.
