\u201cAs far as Sandy, really loved and appreciated playing with her, like, I\u2019m happy I got to do that,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cAnd while it\u2019s sad that we\u2019re no longer, we had some great years together and winning a championship is going to be like the cherry on top of that. And [I\u2019m] excited to see what she does in Toronto.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minutes after the Liberty\u2019s 2025 season ended with a first-round loss, Stewart vehemently backed Brondello to return as the Liberty\u2019s head coach.<\/p>\n
The mere suggestion that Brondello could be dismissed only a year removed from winning a title appeared to catch Stewart off guard.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the f\u2014k,\u201d a hot mic caught her saying at the podium, with Brondello sitting only inches to her left.<\/p>\n
Stewart continued, saying, \u201cShe has our backs, and we have hers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Only a few days later, though, the Liberty fired Brondello. They held a lengthy two-month search for her replacement and ultimately hired longtime Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco to take over.<\/p>\n
![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/user-expressly-acknowledges-agrees-downloading-111765408.jpg\")
Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty handles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Mercury. NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n
General manager Jonathan Kolb later said he liked DeMarco\u2019s championship pedigree, tactical confidence and experience being part of the building of one of basketball\u2019s great modern dynasties<\/a>.<\/p>\n Stewart missed DeMarco\u2019s introductory news conference last week because she took a family vacation to Disneyland Paris. She has yet to meet him in person and has only spoken to him on the phone.<\/p>\n DeMarco, who is expected to remain on the Warriors bench through the team\u2019s Dec. 28 game in Brooklyn, is scheduled to make a trip to Unrivaled next month.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, Stewart, an unrestricted free agent who already pledged her intentions to return to Brooklyn next season, said she\u2019s looking forward to working with DeMarco.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving Chris come from the Warriors, coming to the Liberty, I\u2019m excited,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cI\u2019m excited to see what he brings \u2014 his basketball IQ, knowing that the NBA \u2026 they just do different things than the W, and bring in that analytical side to what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n Stewart texted Sabrina Ionescu Tuesday night as soon as she caught wind that her teammate\u2019s Southern California home was burglarized.<\/p>\n Ionescu and her husband, former NFL offensive lineman Hroniss Grasu, weren\u2019t home Monday night when the masked burglars ransacked the place<\/a> and stole $60,000 worth of handbags, according to NBC4.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, knowing that they\u2019re safe, first and foremost, is the most important thing,\u201d Stewart said. \u201c\u2026 It\u2019s scary, you know, to have the idea of your house being robbed, people knowing where you live, like, that\u2019s the biggest thing is the sense of privacy that you feel is lost.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cSo here for Sab and Hroniss and anything that they need. And you know that they\u2019ll be OK.\u201d<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Stewart can probably relate to some of the unsettling feelings that Ionescu might be experiencing.<\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/new-new-york-liberty-head-117102257.jpg\")
New Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco addresses a press conference at the Barclays Center. JASON SZENES\/ NY POST<\/p>\n