Sandy Brondello has made quite a name for herself in the female basketball realm. Coaching the New York Liberty previously, Brondello had one of the best stints. Unfortunately, despite giving a title run, Liberty fired Brondello soon after the team exited from the playoffs this year.
Soon after the decision came to the forefront, things got really tense. Fans and players alike condemned the Liberty front office for taking such a drastic step.
Things progressed to the point that Liberty GM, Jonathan Kolb, had to issue a public statement. Meanwhile, taking a closer look at Brondello’s coaching history, it is not only the WNBA that she has shone in. Her performance with the Australian Opals, too, has been phenomenal. Walking down the sweet memory lane, Brondello pointed out that her one decision regarding Tess Madgen changed everything.
How Did Sandy Brondello Change The Australian Opals’ Fate With Tess Madgen?
The Opals have been Australia’s most successful national teams. Starting from 1996, they won five Olympic medals back-to-back. Unfortunately, things came to a screeching halt as Brendan Joyce and team failed to repeat the antics in 2016. And if that was not enough, the Opals’ 2020 campaign almost rocked the base of the program.
Thus, when Brondello assessed the sorry state of affairs, she knew that radical changes were necessary. And soon enough, the former Liberty head coach utilized all her coaching acumen and made a decision that enabled The Opals to return as a powerhouse again.
Ahead of the 2022 FIBA World Cup, Brondello appointed Tess Madgen as the captain. Reminiscing the days, Brondello stated in a recent episode of ‘Cut to the Jase,’ podcast, “I think the best decision that I ever made was to name Tess Madgen as the captain. (It was) because of the passion and pride that she takes in wearing the green and gold because that’s what it’s about. My fondest memories are playing for Australia, hands down, with the highs and the lows, and she just lives and breathes it. So you have someone leading that culture space and then you got Sami Whitcomb and Steph Talbot and the leadership group just kind of running it.”
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Surely, such a decision turned things around for the team. The Opals initially clinched a bronze medal at the FIBA World Cup in 2022. Next up, the team also came back to win an Olympic medal in Paris after London 2012. Meanwhile, as she recalls her days with the Opals, Brondello would currently like to replicate her success with the Toronto Tempo.
Sandy Brondello Reveals Real Motivation To Join The Toronto Tempo
After being fired by the Liberty, it did not take much for Brondello to get another stint. Coming in as an expansion team this year, the Toronto Tempo appointed her as the head coach.
And while coaching such a new and inexperienced side can be challenging, Brondello revealed what exactly motivated her to take up the challenge.
“Once I was let go from New York I had some interest from other teams and going through that process was fun. A little overwhelming, a little stressful just making that decision because they’re all great situations. But in the end, my heart was leading me to Toronto. To build something from scratch in a whole new city. A whole new country. It’s not just Toronto’s team. It’s Canada’s team,” Brondello stated.
Thus, it is clear that Brondello likes challenges. Now, fans cannot wait to see how she fares in the upcoming season.