Liberty Sacks DeMarco Before WNBA Draft Lottery and Commissioner Search

The New York Liberty fired head coach Chris DeMarco on Tuesday morning, confirming the move via a social media post after ESPN first reported the news. DeMarco was hired last year to replace Sandy Brondello, the coach who led the team to its first championship in 2024. His departure marks the third coaching change for the Liberty in as many seasons.

General Manager Jonathan Kolb, who brought DeMarco to New York, now faces the task of finding a successor to lead a roster that includes Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu. The trio remains under contract through 2028. Since winning the title in 2024, the Liberty have posted a 43-35 regular season record but have been eliminated in the first round and the semifinals in subsequent years.

The coaching shakeup comes just two weeks before the 2027 WNBA Draft Lottery, scheduled for November 15. This event will determine which team holds the first overall pick in the upcoming draft. The league expanded its lottery to seven teams last season following the addition of the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire.

The Toronto Tempo and Houston Comets share the best odds in the lottery, each holding a .250 winning percentage over the relevant period. The Tempo finished 2-24 in 2026, while the Comets, previously the Connecticut Sun, compiled a 22-66 record over the last two seasons. The league uses two-year aggregate records for established teams, but only the 2026 record was considered for expansion franchises.

USC star JuJu Watkins is the leading candidate to be selected first. The 6-foot-2 wing missed the entire 2025 season with a torn ACL and is eligible to return to college for the 2027-28 season. Watkins told CBS Sports that she has not decided whether to declare for the draft, stating that her current focus is winning a championship with her college team.

The league is also navigating a leadership transition as Commissioner Cathy Engelbert retires at the end of 2026. She served seven years as the WNBA's first commissioner. The organization has not named a replacement, though ESPN reported that Bethany Donaphin, the WNBA's Head of League Operations, is a leading contender. Other names mentioned in reports include NBA Deputy Commissioner Marc Tatum and New York Liberty CEO Keia Clarke.

In Indiana, the Fever are searching for a new general manager after firing Amber Cox and seeing president Kelly Krauskopf step down. Mel Raines, president and CEO of Pacers Sports and Entertainment, will oversee business operations. The new GM will need to convince star Kelsey Mitchell to re-sign and pursue an extension for Caitlin Clark. Mitchell said at her exit interview that she must be selfish with her career decisions.

The Los Angeles Sparks remain the only team without a head coach, a status they held until the Liberty dismissed DeMarco. General Manager Ariana Andonian is leading the search for Roberts, who was let go last season. The Sparks are beginning a rebuild centered on Cameron Brink and two lottery picks in 2027. Andonian said the organization wants to take time to find a leader who is a great developer of talent.