Dallas Wings have one preference in mind for next head coach

The Dallas Wings seem to be leaning in one direction for their next head coach.
Aug 29, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) in action against the Atlanta Dream in the fourth quarter at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Aug 29, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) in action against the Atlanta Dream in the fourth quarter at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Dallas Wings recently just made the correct decision to fire head coach Chris Koclanes after a 10-34 season in which he was constantly criticized by fans and the media, players seemed to be confused at a lot of his play calls, and the team didn't succeed despite a superstar in Paige Bueckers and another All-Star in Arike Ogunbowale.

The timing of it was interesting considering it came nearly a month after the season ended, and a report had already surfaced that they were planning to not make any staff changes, and then days later, Koclanes is gone.

So what happened between when that report surfaced, and when the Wings actually made that move? The biggest thing was the New York Liberty firing two-time champion head coach Sandy Brondello. And, according to Jake Fischer, that seems to be the direction that the Wings are headed, as they want someone with experience.

"And that [the want for a coach with experience] has led various league sources to point to (Sandy) Brondello as a contender to be the next head coach for Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers," Fischer wrote in the latest Stein Line Substack.

Brondello was fired despite leading the Liberty to a 27-17 record, but losing in the first round of the playoffs was a disappointment after winning the championship a year ago. Especially when they have players like Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart (who was playing through a knee injury).

It did seem a little premature to fire Brondello just a year after winning the championship, but that team had high expectations.

New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello
Sep 11, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello reacts during the first half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images / Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

READ MORE: WNBA star Paige Bueckers reveals her favorite NBA player and it’s no surprise

Why Sandy Brondello Could be a Fit With Dallas

Some WNBA fans think Brondello has won two championships almost by accident, but it's hard to win two championships, and even harder to do so a decade apart.

Yes, she has had some good teams with great players; Ionescu, Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and Candice Dupree, just to name a few. But she has still led teams to two championships, and the Finals another time. She's had as many Finals appearances as she's had losing seasons in her 13 seasons as a head coach. That's worth taking a chance on for the Wings.

Dallas has had one season over .500 in the last decade and just one playoff series win since they moved to Dallas. With a talent such as Bueckers, it is vital to have as strong a supporting system as possible, and Brondello could be that option.

READ MORE: Who would Dallas Wings protect in WNBA expansion draft?

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Austin Veazey
AUSTIN VEAZEY

Austin Veazey joined NoleGameday as the Lead Basketball Writer in 2019, while contributing as a football writer, and started as editor for MavericksGameday in 2024. Veazey was a Florida State Men’s Basketball Manager from 2016-2019. Follow Austin on Twitter at @EasyVeazeyNG