New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello watches the first half of Game 2 in the first round of the WNBA basketball playoffs against the Phoenix Mercury, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

By The Canadian Press

Sandy Brondello’s path that led her to becoming Tempo’s first-ever head coach

Nov 4, 2025 | 12:23 PM

Sandy Brondello is the first-ever head coach for the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo.

The 57-year-old Australian was named the expansion franchise’s coach on Tuesday, with Brondello saying she passed on other coaching opportunities for the gig.

Here’s a look at the coach tasked with leading the expansion Tempo:

FORMER PLAYER

Brondello came into coaching after a playing career that spanned from 1992-2004.

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She played professionally in Australia’s Women’s National Basketball League, where she was a two-time all-star (1994, 1995) and league MVP in 1995.

The five-foot-seven shooting guard also played for BTV Wuppertal in Germany, where she won six German Cup championships and the 1996 European Cup title. She was a three-time European Cup all-star (1994, 1996, 1997).

In addition, Brondello was a three-time Olympic medallist with Australia, having earned two silvers (2000, 2004) and a bronze (1996).

JOINING THE WNBA

Brondello was a fourth-round pick (34th overall) in the WNBA draft by the Detroit Shock in 1998, spending two seasons there and being named an all-star in 1999. She then played for the Miami Sol from 2001-2002 and then the Seattle Storm in 2003.

Brondello averaged 11.4 points on 41.4 per cent shooting (41.0 per cent from three-point range), 1.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 29.6 minutes in 155 career WNBA games.

MOVING BEHIND THE BENCH

Brondello began her coaching career as an assistant for the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars — now the Las Vegas Aces — from 2005-2009 before being promoted to head coach in 2010. She was fired after finishing 14-20 and getting swept in the first round of the playoffs in 2010.

Brondello moved into an assistant role with the Los Angeles Sparks, where she stayed from 2011-2013 before taking her second head-coaching job with the Phoenix Mercury.

She led the Mercury to a WNBA title in her first season as head coach — in addition to being named coach of the year — and led them to another finals appearance in 2021. She made the playoffs every season of her eight-year tenure in Phoenix but parted ways with the team after not having her contract renewed.

Brondello then went to New York, where she led the Liberty to four playoff appearances and a championship in 2024. But after falling in the first round of the playoffs this past season with the team struggling with injuries most of the season, the Liberty opted to not renew her contract.

DOWN UNDER

A 2010 inductee into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame, Brondello has also been Australia’s national team head coach since 2017, leading the team to Olympic bronze in Paris last year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2025.

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press