The New York Liberty ended their 2025 WNBA season with a disappointing early playoff exit, falling to the Phoenix Mercury in the first round in three games. Despite opening the year with a franchise-record nine straight wins and finishing with a 27-17 record, the Liberty could not repeat their 2024 championship run and were eliminated after a 79-73 Game 3 loss in Phoenix.
The loss marked a frustrating end to a season defined by injuries and inconsistency. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton missed the year entirely, while Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart were both sidelined for extended stretches. New York’s offense sputtered at key moments, including a 60-point showing in Game 2 at home, their second-lowest total of the year. Stewart poured in 30 points in the deciding game, but Phoenix rode a triple-double from Alyssa Thomas and 23 points from Satou Sabally to advance.
Days later, the Liberty dismissed head coach Sandy Brondello — the franchise’s winningest coach and the architect of its first championship in 2024. General manager Jonathan Kolb said the move reflected the need for evolution and innovation rather than reaction to a single playoff loss.
Big Three Outlook Under a New CBA
For Kolb, the starting point this offseason is clear: securing the Liberty’s three franchise pillars. Stewart, Ionescu and Jones are all hitting free agency in the same summer the WNBA introduces a new CBA, leaving the Liberty with critical decisions on retention, cap flexibility and long-term sustainability.
“I have the utmost confidence that they want to be back with us,” Kolb said.
The uncertainty of league-wide free agency doesn’t faze Kolb, who said the Liberty’s reputation as a player-centered organization gives him confidence in re-signing the core.
“This is not about not winning or winning,” Kolb said. “It’s about how do we position ourselves to be at the top of the league in a real sustainable way as the league evolves.”
He added that New York intends to remain a place where elite players want to stay and grow.
“We pride ourselves on being a player organization,” Kolb said. “There’s a level of trust that leadership will make decisions and that players will be motivated to know what’s next.”
Kolb also addressed health as a critical off-season variable. He confirmed Stewart sustained a sprained MCL and said he had no additional updates beyond that, while noting Ionescu finished the year managing an issue and that forward Nyara Sabally “isn’t planning to play this offseason.”
One player with more clarity is Leonie Fiebich, who is under contract for 2026. Kolb said her toughness stood out during the playoffs when she played through a fractured rib.
“She checked back into the game because that’s who she is,” Kolb said.
Sabrina’s Role and the Backcourt Blueprint
The future of Ionescu may be the most complex question New York faces. Once the unquestioned lead guard, she has shifted into more off-ball duties with different backcourt partners, raising questions about her best fit moving forward. Kolb said the organization is actively debating whether it’s time to return Ionescu to the point full-time.
“It’s an awesome question, because I think that it’s something that we’re always evaluating,” Kolb said. “What is the best backcourt partner for her, and really, how are we planning to use her moving forward?”
He acknowledged that the 2025 pairing with Natasha Cloud did not fully unlock Ionescu’s off-ball gravity or shot quality.
“I don’t know that we really solved the off-ball production opportunities with Tash in ways that were conducive to creating success for Sabrina,” Kolb said. “I don’t know that we got [Sab] a lot of clean looks this year from three. She’s one of the best shooters in the world, with immense gravitational pull.”
So I asked the Sabrina/backcourt question to JK, and I think some of the response has already been taken out of context, so here’s the full Q&A:
— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) September 25, 2025
Q: “Sabrina’s season is really interesting, even the last three years, right? It’s like, no matter what backcourt partner she plays…
The organization is now weighing whether Ionescu’s gravity as a shooter is better maximized with a playmaking partner — or whether she should simply control the offense herself.
“I just think that there’s ways that we can continue to evolve there, in terms of the partner,” Kolb said. “I mean, that’s something we’re really looking at. I think there’s consideration of, is it time? Is it time for Sab to be at the one? If so, what does that partner look like? And so, these are all things that we’ve been considering and will consider, will continue to consider, and it also will be heavily influenced by whomever assumes the eventual coaching role.”
What 2025 Taught New York About Depth and Roles
Injuries forced the Liberty to dig deeper into their bench than planned, revealing both strengths and shortcomings. Kolb said he was impressed by the resilience of role players but admitted the team missed the steady presence of Laney and a reliable third scoring option.
“I feel comfortable with what we put together,” he said. “This season showed how much Betnijah matters. When she got hurt, it increased the importance of acquiring Natasha. Our starting lineup was the best in the league with little drop-off. But there were moments we needed a third scorer, someone who can navigate three levels—like Betnijah.”
Kolb: “I feel comfortable with what we put together. I think we saw how (important) Betnijah (Laney-Hamilton) was to our team…on the defensive end, we have something very special when Leo and Bee are moving on the wings together.” (Powell) #WNBA #LightItUpNYL
— Geoff Magliocchetti (@GeoffJMags) September 25, 2025
Even with the setbacks, Kolb said several reserves proved they can be trusted in critical moments.
“Really proud of Rebecca Gardner, very poised and patient,” Kolb said. “Isabelle Harrison and Kennedy Burke gave us a lot. I was proud of the group for what they brought; it was a tough season for them navigating injuries and shifting roles.”
Midseason addition Emma Meesseman showed flashes but never fully settled into the rotation. Kolb said her future with the franchise will depend largely on the vision of the next head coach.
“When she arrived, she was playing on instinct and feel; we saw flashes of her impact, but needed more time to integrate her,” Kolb said. “Emma is very mission-based. The mission was here and now; now she’s into her next mission. She doesn’t make decisions before it’s necessary. Our initial interest is yes, but ultimately it needs to fit with the next coach’s plans.”
Frontcourt Plan and Style of Play
The Liberty’s foundation of size and versatility remains unchanged. Kolb said the team will continue to build around long, two-way players who can adapt to multiple roles alongside Stewart, Jones and Ionescu.
“No, I don’t believe that needs to change,” he said of the organizational size/length strategy. “We were on the cutting edge with two-way ability—size, length, athleticism. That’s the formula for fitting around Jonquel, Stewie, Sabrina.”
Jones, in particular, could see her responsibilities adjusted depending on matchups.
“JJ’s skill set is dynamic and unique—there’s benefit to her being on the perimeter but also moments for post dominance, that’ll be up to the next coach,” Kolb said. “We do understand the importance of positions behind Jonquel for impact.”
Kolb praised Harrison’s growth as a backup five and noted that Sabally could still factor in if healthy.
“We played Izzy at the five a fair amount; she’s shown ability to provide impactful minutes that equate to winning,” he said. “Niara’s capable, but it’s a matter of health.”
Why the Liberty Didn’t Use Hardship Signings
Fans wondered throughout the year why the Liberty didn’t sign extra players under hardship rules, especially when key starters missed time. Kolb explained that the structure of hardship contracts — locking in minimum absences for injured players — made the option untenable.
“On hardships: there’s a massive misconception about how those work, and for good reason, it’s not explained to the public well,” he said. “For our situation, we’d have had to attach two injuries to those hardships and you lock in the games those players will miss. With injuries like Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart, there’s a moving timeline for their return. You’d like them back ASAP. We weren’t comfortable that, if we brought someone in, they’d play or would be worth pushing back return dates of our injured players.”
Kolb: “Hardships have a lot of complexity to them…for the situation we would’ve been in, you’d have to attach injuries, lock in the game those players would have to miss…there’s a moving timeline for when they’re going to return…we didn’t feel comfortable that,…
— Geoff Magliocchetti (@GeoffJMags) September 25, 2025
By the time the Liberty revisited the possibility, Kolb said the pool of players didn’t align with their needs.
“Later in the year, we gave serious consideration to hardship but players we wanted didn’t want it, and others took opportunities with other teams with longer stays,” Kolb said. “Other times, the players we wanted were already overseas.”
The Numbers That Will Shape the Retool
Kolb said the front office has studied the team’s statistical profile closely and sees evidence that the Liberty are falling behind stylistically even as they remain efficient.
“Our three-point attempt rate, free throw attempt rate are dropping compared to the league,” he said. “Our five-person starting lineup, compared to last year, is eerily similar in offensive and defensive rating and net rating. We were actually better net rating and offensive rating wise but dropped in ranking offensively, even though we scored more points per possession. That’s a sign of a changing league.”
The late-game film revealed another concern: offensive stagnation when the clock wound down.
“There were moments we became stagnant late in the clock,” Kolb said. “That’s an area we have to address.”
Becoming ‘Bulletproof’ and Planning for Expansion
Kolb said the Liberty must design a roster that can’t be schemed out of games, with flexibility across positions and access to resources to keep players healthy. He called this approach “bulletproof.”
“Part of my job is making sure no opponent can take everything away,” he said. “We do that by avoiding unnecessary redundancies and providing optionality for our coach—so we have flexibility to tap into whatever’s needed in whatever situation. No team plays us the same way. That’s why we have 12 players, intentionally.”
At the same time, Kolb said the front office is looking outward, preparing for the impact of both the new CBA and eventual league expansion.
“We want to grow as a front office, but not necessarily by adding a lot of headcount,” Kolb said. “Growth-minded, expanding internationally will be important as we move into new CBA rules. Domestically, we want to keep getting better yearly, looking at our opponents’ front offices and making sure we’re keeping pace.”
What the Liberty Learned — and What’s Next
Even in disappointment, Kolb said the season provided clarity about what the Liberty need to sustain success in a rapidly changing league. He praised the team’s resilience and singled out players who impressed in difficult circumstances.
“I do think it was a success, not based on a first round out,” he said. “It was successful in terms of resiliency. I learned a lot about Kennedy Burke as a player, proud of Leonie’s growth and her toughness. Sometimes losses are necessary… She had a fractured rib—she checked back into the game because that’s who she is.”
Cheryl Reeve Set the Coaching Standard
Kolb placed New York’s situation in the broader arc of WNBA coaching and roster cycles, pointing to Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve as an example of sustained success but stressing that teams today must adapt faster than ever.
“Cheryl Reeve set the standard for coaching longevity and success in the WNBA,” Kolb said. “This league is different now than even a couple years ago, let alone a decade ago. It’s about evaluating the league and how it’s changing—who’s coming into the league and leading organizations.”
Kolb: “Cheryl (Reeve) has set the standard for not just longevity, but success…there’s under .500 records but they also had that dynasty run…this league is different from a couple of years ago…(it’s about) how the league is changing…This is not a results-based…
— Geoff Magliocchetti (@GeoffJMags) September 25, 2025
He added that the pool of coaching candidates has grown dramatically, which he sees as an advantage as the Liberty search for Brondello’s replacement.
“Coaching has changed so much over time, not only who’s come into league but who wants to come into this space,” Kolb said. “In the past it was tough to find options; now the pool is much larger because of the growth of the league, storytelling and the caliber of players coming in. The pool is vast and it’s exciting.”
With nearly the entire roster hitting free agency and a clean cap sheet, Kolb said the Liberty are entering a rare window to reset while keeping their core intact.
“We have a massive opportunity in front of us,” he said. “So do a lot of teams with the amount of free agents that are going to be on the board, and also our cap sheet is relatively clean. So this is honestly probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many franchises.”
