The New York Liberty have fired head coach Chris DeMarco after just one season, The Post confirmed. The decision comes after the Liberty were swept in the WNBA semifinals by the Atlanta Dream.
In late April, Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb had stated a willingness to be patient with the coaching process after hiring DeMarco, who was a first-time WNBA head coach. Six months later, that patience has ended.
DeMarco's dismissal signifies an admission by Kolb that the hiring was not the right fit. The Liberty, who entered the playoffs as the No. 8 seed, saw their championship aspirations end with the semifinal loss. Following the season-ending Game 3 defeat, DeMarco had expressed his expectation to return for the 2027 season.
Players offered lukewarm reactions to DeMarco's departure. "I don’t know what’s going to happen," said Sabrina Ionescu. "Regardless, thankful for him coaching us this year and giving us a chance, and we just fell short." Breanna Stewart added, "Those decisions aren’t ours. I think my focus and what I’m thinking about right now is just: missed opportunity."
This marks Kolb's fourth coaching search since 2019. Potential candidates for the vacant position include Indiana Fever assistant Briann January, Duke head coach Kara Lawson, and Lakers assistant Lindsey Harding.
DeMarco, who previously served as an NBA assistant coach with the Warriors, lacked prior experience in women's basketball. During his tenure, he aimed to revamp the team's offense and bolster its defense, but the team faced growing pains, including a 2-8 stretch midway through the season. His inexperience was occasionally evident in late-game management, notably in the Game 2 overtime loss to the Dream, and in his rotation strategies.
Despite the overall outcome, DeMarco's tenure did include the Liberty's second Commissioner's Cup victory. The team finished the regular season with a 26-18 record, a slight decrease from the previous year. They achieved a significant first-round playoff win by sweeping the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx but were ultimately outmatched by the Atlanta Dream in the semifinals.