When teams thought hiring Sandy Brondello, Sonia Raman, and Jose Fernandez was the easiest part, it could get tricky anytime.
As the coaches are all set to step into a 2026 WNBA season loaded with unknowns, coach Brondello is motivated to join the Toronto Tempo.
With a new year, a new season, and a new team, the three coaches will take up the responsibility to lead the teams and revive the league amid daunting pressure heading into the new CBA.
Sandy Brondello, Sonia Raman, And Jose Fernandez Have Challenges Ahead
With Brondello aiming to plant the Tempo’s flag in Canada, Raman betting on a Storm turnaround, and Fernandez tasked with unlocking Paige Bueckers’ potential in Dallas, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The Toronto team will have a mission to build from scratch, but just in case they want to look elsewhere, the Golden State Valkyries’ playoff debut last year just raised the bar for expansion teams.
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Brondello has to attract talent to a new market, and with the CBA talks still up in the air, player contracts could shift the game plan.
Similarly, Raman faces a Storm squad fresh off a coaching change, needing to mesh a roster that underperformed in 2025. Her NBA background might impress, but translating that to WNBA success is another story, especially with a hard salary cap limiting moves.
Jose Fernandez, meanwhile, inherits a Dallas Wings team that’s been a revolving door of coaches, now banking on Paige Bueckers to turn things around.
But if Bueckers isn’t happy or the wins don’t come, Fernandez could be the next name on the chopping block.
Sandy Brondello, Sonia Raman, And Jose Fernandez Headline Latest Coaching Hire
The hiring spree post-2025 Finals saw Brondello land with the Tempo, Raman take the Storm helm, and Fernandez join the Wings, each bringing a unique pedigree.
Brondello’s two championships and playoff consistency make her a safe bet for Toronto, but her Liberty exit hints at potential cultural clashes.
On the other hand, Raman’s NBA assistant role with the Grizzlies positions her as a trailblazer, but her lack of WNBA head coaching experience could be a wildcard for Seattle.
Fernandez, coming from South Florida’s success, faces the tallest order in Dallas, where recent coaches haven’t lasted long.