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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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The New York Liberty are making another major coaching change, just two years removed from winning their first WNBA championship.
Chris DeMarco will not return as the Liberty's head coach after just one season, according to ESPN's Alexa Philippou, leaving the franchise searching for its third head coach in three seasons.
The decision comes after New York finished the 2026 regular season with a 26-18 record before suffering a disappointing playoff exit against the Atlanta Dream.
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Despite entering the postseason as the No. 8 seed, the Liberty delivered one of the playoffs' biggest surprises by sweeping the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the opening round. However, their championship hopes came to an abrupt end when Atlanta swept New York in the semifinals.
DeMarco was hired in December 2025 to replace Sandy Brondello, who led the Liberty to their first WNBA championship in 2024 before being dismissed following the 2025 season.
His hiring brought considerable expectations after spending 14 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, including 11 as an assistant coach.
During his time in Golden State, DeMarco was part of four NBA championship teams, working alongside head coach Steve Kerr during one of the most successful stretches in franchise history.
However, his first season leading the Liberty proved challenging.
New York struggled with consistency throughout the regular season, while injuries to key players, including Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally, complicated the team's efforts to establish momentum.
Following the playoff elimination, questions emerged about DeMarco's future, particularly after several of the team's biggest stars declined to publicly endorse his return.
When asked about the coaching situation, Ionescu acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the organization.
"I don't know what's going to happen," Ionescu said. "Regardless, thankful for him coaching us this year and giving us a chance. And we just fell short."
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The latest decision leaves New York facing another important offseason as it attempts to return to championship contention.
With stars such as Breanna Stewart, Ionescu and Jonquel Jones on the roster, expectations remain high for a franchise that reached consecutive WNBA Finals in 2023 and 2024.
The Liberty now face the challenge of finding a coach capable of restoring consistency and maximizing a talented roster.
After winning a championship just two seasons ago, New York is once again searching for the leadership it believes can take the franchise back to the top of the WNBA.
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