The 2025 season saw a new WNBA champion with two of the biggest challengers – the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx not even making it to the finals. While the Lynx remained at the top with strong performances throughout the season, the 2024 champions were eliminated from the race in the very first round.
Now in the off-season, the franchise will be looking to make ‘improvements’ as the Liberty hires the Golden State Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco as head coach. Still, there are many vulnerabilities in the expansion draft.
New York Liberty With Key Pending Decisions Ahead Of 2026 Season
The 2024 championship run solidified Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, and Breanna Stewart as irreplaceable stars on the roster. While most of the Liberty roster from the 2025 season enters free agency, the trio will stick together, maintaining the core. But in that run, the front office also needs to make decisions on multiple other role players who are key to their success.
Players like Leonie Fiebich, Marine Johannes, Nyara Sabally, and Emma Meesseman, who were also key figures in the franchise, could be targets for Toronto Tempo (with Sandy Brondello as head coach) and Portland Fire in the expansion draft.
BEM-VINDA DE VOLTA, BREANNA STEWART! 🗽
— NY Liberty Brasil (@nylibertybr) March 29, 2025
A MVP de 2023 está de volta por mais uma temporada após assinar a core designation do New York Liberty. Stewie vai para o seu 3° ano na equipe e em busca de mais um título. pic.twitter.com/39obFmcWbl
Moreover, the team has only one draft pick in the 2026 WNBA draft, which will be the 41st overall pick, and may get to see a few minutes on the floor. So, the front office has to work its way through the available pieces to strengthen the squad for the upcoming season’s challenge.
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Additionally, according to reports, the new coach is also ready to make changes to the coaching staff, following the departures of Olaf Lange and Sona Raman, who were responsible for handling the defensive duties and the analytical aspects of the game.
Chris DeMarco Ready For Challenges At New York Liberty
Ahead of his first official game in charge of the NY team, the Warriors’ assistant coach gets new updates about the franchise, which is ranking high in many aspects despite a recent poor season. Recently, Forbes awarded the Liberty as the most valuable Women’s team in the world.
But it’s not pressuring the new coach. “I did just a little bit of research. It was a no-brainer that this is the best opportunity in the WNBA. A good championship franchise and this was what I wanted and that’s why I’m here right now,” DeMarco said on joining the team.
From the Bay to BK, a new era begins!
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) December 3, 2025
Libs Fam, please join us in welcoming Chris DeMarco as the new Head Coach of the NY Liberty!🗽 pic.twitter.com/206M5Ib2EF
DeMarco will join the side in 2026, completing his commitments with the NBA team, and may need to return to work quickly to assess the impact of the changes.