{"id":327253,"date":"2025-12-05T15:25:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T15:25:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/327253\/"},"modified":"2025-12-05T15:25:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T15:25:15","slug":"liberty-stars-all-in-on-new-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/327253\/","title":{"rendered":"Liberty Stars All In on New Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"4y\">The New York Liberty this week named <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/wnba\/liberty\/news\/new-york-liberty-officially-announce-head-coach-chris-demarco\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chris DeMarco<\/a> from the Golden State Warriors as the 10th head coach in franchise history, a hire that underscores a growing leaguewide trend of WNBA teams tapping into the NBA-to-WNBA coaching pipeline.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"51\">More than half of current WNBA head coaches have NBA experience, a shift that has sparked ongoing debate among fans about representation and opportunities within the league. Team officials and players, however, maintain that athletes are deeply involved in selecting who leads them.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"54\">In New York, the Liberty\u2019s stars have offered full support for their new coach. The team posted welcome messages from stars Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, each expressing enthusiasm for the direction DeMarco is expected to bring.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Special shoutout to Coach DeMarco from the squad!\ud83d\udcaa <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BXLBsqL9sn\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/BXLBsqL9sn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 New York Liberty (@nyliberty) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nyliberty\/status\/1996260214677651677?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">December 3, 2025<\/a>Stewie Welcomes Coach\u00a0DeMarco <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5d\">Stewart is all in for her new coach. The last time fans saw Stewart in Seafoam was on the road in Phoenix, where she delivered a monstrous performance on one leg in a desperate bid to save the Liberty\u2019s playoff hopes. In Game 3, playing through a sprained left MCL, Stewart finished with 30 points and nine rebounds. She scored all 14 of New York\u2019s points in the fourth quarter but ultimately fell short against the Mercury in the first round of the WNBA playoffs. Still, she reassured fans she would be back.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5g\">This week, the Liberty officially introduced their new head coach and here\u2019s what Stewart had to say.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5j\">\u201cWelcome to New York. Welcome to the Liberty. The franchise and the city are really excited to have you. I\u2019m excited to have you. I can\u2019t wait to see all of the things that you bring from the NBA to our league.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5m\">Stewart\u2019s confidence in the Liberty\u2019s decision was clear. She went on to say, \u201cI know it\u2019s a step in the right direction for your career as well, and we\u2019re ready. I\u2019m ready to get after it. There\u2019s no place like New York, and I can\u2019t wait for you to feel the energy every single day, every single night, and know that we\u2019re working to get back to another championship. See you soon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Betnijah Welcomes Coach DeMarco <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5s\">The last time Liberty fans saw Laney-Hamilton in Seafoam, the team was hoisting its first WNBA championship in franchise history. She averaged 8.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists during the run. She was a huge X-factor in Game 2 of the Finals, dropping 20 points to help New York avoid falling into a 0\u20132 hole.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5v\">Later that offseason, Laney-Hamilton suffered a meniscus injury in her left knee while playing in Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 league co-founded by Liberty teammate Breanna Stewart and Minnesota\u2019s Napheesa Collier. She would go on to miss the entire 2025 WNBA season after undergoing knee surgery, which came with a 5\u20136 month recovery timetable.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5y\">Now, seven months post-op, Betnijah is back and it\u2019s safe to say she can\u2019t wait to get to work under her new coach.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"61\">\u201cJust wanted to take the time to welcome you to the Liberty family. So happy to have you on board. Can\u2019t wait for what\u2019s next.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-14\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"64\">Known for her defensive toughness and her ability to put the ball on the floor and create her own shot, Laney-Hamilton enters her fifth year in Seafoam with her third head coach. How DeMarco chooses to maximize her versatile skill set will be one of the more intriguing storylines this season.<\/p>\n<p>Sabrina All In on Coach DeMarco<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6a\">Sabrina Ionescu has been all in on the Liberty\u2019s new hire. Before the move became official, she reportedly reached out to Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry \u2014 a strong signal of support from the franchise cornerstone and an encouraging sign for any coach stepping into such a high-profile role.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6d\">Ionescu even made the trip to Golden State to watch the Warriors play. Before tipoff, she met with Curry and her new coach on the sidelines. DeMarco and Ionescu were all smiles, with the coach sporting an all-white pair of Sabrina 3s and Curry preparing to play in Nike Sabrinas for the first time in his career. Since the announcement, Ionescu has been nothing short of enthusiastic \u2014 she even has a nickname for her new coach.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-19\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6k\">\u201cHey, CD, just want to say congratulations. I\u2019m so excited to have you be our head coach. I can\u2019t wait for you to get into Barclays Center and be able to be surrounded by our amazing fans and be a part of this organization. Can\u2019t wait to get more wins. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Start of a New Era Backed by the Ladies <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-21\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6q\">Coach also has the full support of governor Clara Wu Tsai who sees the hiring as a momentous moment for the organization moving forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-22\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6t\">\u201cToday marks an exciting next chapter for the New York Liberty,\u201d said Clara Wu Tsai, Governor, New York Liberty. \u201cOur commitment has always been to deliver world-class basketball and the best fan experience in Brooklyn, and that is why we continue to invest in attracting top talent across every area of our organization.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-23\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6w\">Wu Tsai continued: \u201cThis coaching search was a unified and deeply collaborative process, and we were deliberate in finding a leader who shares our values and can elevate this storied franchise to the next level. Chris brings championship experience and an innovative perspective that align perfectly with our vision, and we are proud to welcome him to the Liberty family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-24\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6z\">DeMarco will be introduced at a press conference next week at Barclays Center. The unveiling will be followed by a visit to the Brooklyn Basketball Training Facility, where he will take part in a girls\u2019 basketball clinic.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-25\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"72\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/wnba\/liberty\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Make sure you bookmark Liberty on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!<\/a><\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The New York Liberty this week named Chris DeMarco from the Golden State Warriors as the 10th head&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":327254,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[629],"tags":[49,48,82,630],"class_list":["post-327253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wnba","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-sports","tag-wnba"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327253","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=327253"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327253\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/327254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=327253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=327253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=327253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}