After one season, 5 best candidates to replace Chris DeMarco as Liberty head coach

A championship window to protect

New York’s coaching change comes after the Liberty won their first WNBA title in 2024. DeMarco’s departure after one season means the team has moved on from two coaches in consecutive seasons.

Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones remain under contract. The Liberty’s next hire will be tasked with maximizing the opportunity presented by that core.

Toliver and White offer experience

Toliver was previously considered for the Liberty job, making her a candidate New York could revisit. Stephanie White, meanwhile, has extensive WNBA head-coaching experience and led the Connecticut Sun to a 28-12 record and a semifinal appearance in 2024. Indiana would need to agree to let White go.

Harding draws competing interest

Lindsay Harding became the first woman to earn NBA G League Coach of the Year after guiding the Stockton Kings to a 24-10 record in 2023-24. She had also been considered for the Liberty position.

Harding is attracting interest from the Los Angeles Sparks, who are also seeking a head coach. That could give New York competition if it pursues her.

Wade and Boucek bring résumés

James Wade coached the Chicago Sky from 2019 through 2023, won Coach of the Year in 2019 and led the team to its first championship in 2021. He later left Chicago for an assistant coaching role with the Toronto Raptors.

Questions about Wade’s fit could arise from his Chicago departure and the circumstances of his move to Toronto, though his record merits consideration. Nancy Lieber has extensive basketball experience, including head-coaching roles with the Sacramento Monarchs and Seattle Storm, followed by NBA work with the Kings, Mavericks and Pacers.