The New York Liberty have fired head coach Chris DeMarco after just one season with the team. The decision comes after the Liberty were eliminated in the playoffs by the Atlanta Dream.
DeMarco led the Liberty to an upset victory over the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round of the playoffs. However, the team was swept by the Dream in the following round. The Dream would go on to reach the WNBA Finals.
This marks the second time in recent history that the Liberty have changed coaches in consecutive seasons. The team will now search for its third head coach in three seasons.
Before joining the Liberty, DeMarco served as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors from 2012 to 2026. He also had a stint coaching the Bahamas men's national basketball team. He was hired to replace Sandy Brondello, who led the Liberty to a championship in 2024 before her contract expired and she moved to the expansion Toronto Tempo.
Despite boasting a roster with established stars like Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu, the Liberty secured the eighth seed in the playoffs. While their playoff upset of the Lynx demonstrated their potential, their subsequent sweep by the Dream raised questions about DeMarco's tenure.
Following their playoff elimination, neither Ionescu nor Stewart publicly endorsed DeMarco's return. "I don't know what's going to happen," Ionescu told reporters. "Regardless, thankful for him coaching us this year and giving us a chance, and we just fell short." Stewart added, "Those decisions aren't ours. I think my focus and what I'm thinking about right now is just: missed opportunity."
The Liberty finished the season with a 26-18 record, matching their win total from the previous season. They also secured the WNBA Commissioner's Cup title during DeMarco's tenure.