“They Don’t Want to Wait”: Sue Bird Issues Blunt Verdict on WNBA’s Coaching Carousel

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Is protecting a playoff berth in your very first season and ending up being the very first 8th seed in WNBA history to oust the No. 1 seed enough to hold your task as the head coach? Obviously not when it comes to Chris DeMarco and the New York Liberty. The WNBA’s impatience with brand-new coaches is improving the league’s training landscape, and four-time WNBA champ Sue Bird has actually certainly observed.

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In Friday’s episode of her “Bird’s Eye View” podcastshe provided her take on the present pattern surrounding WNBA head coaches.

“Earlier, I think, what resembled completion of the WNBA season, however previously because, you understand, we saw the Los Angeles Sparks proceed from Lynne Roberts. Most just recently, we have actually seen the New York Liberty proceed from Chris DeMarco. This
after one year, so I think Lynn was there for 2 years, Chris one year. I’m type of like collecting my ideas on this. It’s all simply taken place quick. I believe what actually comes through is that there are groups and franchises who, they do not wish to wait. They’re not playing around, so they’re fast to carry on. That’s plainly the case.”

The Los Angeles Sparks dismissed head coach Lynne Roberts after a two-season period. The training modification follows a 16-28 record in 2026 that extended the franchise’s postseason lack to 6 successive years. Employed ahead of the 2025 season following almost a years at Utah, Roberts concluded her period in Los Angeles with a 37-51 general record.

Following a college period at Utah, highlighted by 3 successive NCAA Tournament berths and a Sweet 16 look, Roberts was employed to handle a lineup shift in Los Angeles anchored by Cameron Brink. Eventually, the franchise did not experience the predicted improvement in regular-season win portion or postseason credentials throughout her period.

While LA’s below average record and missed out on playoffs might have set off Roberts’ ouster, the exact same isn’t real of Chris DeMarco, whose departure came as a little bit of a surprise.

Transitioning to the WNBA in December after a 14-year assistant training period with the Golden State Warriors, DeMarco led New York to a No. 8 regular-season surface in his inaugural season. Throughout the postseason, the Liberty tape-recorded a first-round series sweep versus the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx before being removed in 3 video games by the Atlanta Dream in the Semifinals.

New york city will now search for its 3rd head coach in 3 seasons.

And if we go a little method back, DeMarco’s departure does not appear rather as severe, thinking about that his predecessor was revealed the door even after winning a champion.

Sandy Brondello, who coached the New York Liberty to the franchise’s very first WNBA champion in 2024, was dismissed on Sep. 23, 2025, following the group’s first-round removal from the playoffs that season.

As Sue Bird kept in mind, these workers choices highlight a wider WNBA pattern: franchises are running with condensed timelines, needing instant outcomes despite a coach’s historic awards or the group’s prior-season efficiency.

While it might not have actually gone according to prepare for Roberts and DeMarco this season, Bird was impressed by the strong calls made by the championship-winning Golden State Valkyries’ head coach.

analysis Take Legal Action Against Bird Impressed by Natalie Nakase’s Leadership

The Valkyries postseason had lots of ups and downs. They needed to deal with the ruling MVP, A’ja Wilson, and the safeguarding champs, the Las Vegas Aces, on their roadway to the Finals. And the Finals likewise went to a grueling Game 7. In the end, Nakase’s group pulled through. And Sue Bird, while speaking with Finals MVP Gabby Williams on the abovementioned podcast, highlighted that Nakase’s tactical options had a big part to play in it.

“I suggest, even throughout the course of the playoffs, there were times when you would sit for stretches, which I really valued because, for you, it’s like you get to rest a bit,” stated Bird. “It’s like some discovered rest, so that’s type of good. Then you look at, like, Janelle Salaün, Sixth Player of the Year in the routine season, does not actually have a lot of minutes. It felt like she (Nakase) was able to make these vibrant relocations. And in your locker space, you guys understand that it’s since you trust her, however you need to construct that.”

Williams concurred in unison, even explaining Nakase’s choice to put Aminata Gueye to secure a few of the very best offending gamers throughout the postseason, particularly in the Finals.

“I believe if you remained in that locker space every day, those choices do not feel as strong … It’s been something that’s been constructed all year. Like we’ve been win by committee,” Williams stated.

It’s definitely been a synergy for Golden State, winning a champion in simply their 2nd year of presence. Now that the 2026 season is done, just time will inform how the training choices of the franchises will form next year.