The Liberty’s first offseason query was answered on Tuesday when the group introduced that it was parting methods with Sandy Brondello.
Now for the following query: will the Liberty change its core previous to the 2026 WNBA season?
The age of the Liberty’s present core and an upcoming free company frenzy are among the many elements impacting the state of the Liberty’s roster. Plus, the league and its gamers have a brand new collective bargaining settlement to barter.
AGE
Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu made this clear after their disappointing first-round exit: They need to run it again.
“Well, I’m coming back,” stated Stewart, who then locked eyes with Ionescu seated close to her on the postgame podium.
Ionescu nodded in settlement.
“Yeah. I mean, I think we all know… the team never looks the same every single year, and I think that’s what’s really special about what you have in your locker room, like, you can never really replicate that year in and year out. But I think we understand our core — our core players, the players who are committed to wanting to be here through the good and the bad….”
The homegrown star later added she’s “excited for next year. I think we’re gonna use this to continue to motivate us.”
Stewart might be turning 32 whereas enjoying in her tenth WNBA season in ’26. Ionescu might be 28 and in her seventh season. Jonquel Jones turns 32 in her tenth. Natasha Cloud might be 34 in her eleventh. Leonie Fiebich — youngest impression Liberty performer — might be 26.
That’s three key starters on the opposite facet of 30 and another shortly approaching that benchmark. And that doesn’t embrace the reserves on the opposite facet of 30 — Isabelle Harrison, Rebekah Gardner and Emma Meesseman.
The topic raises this problem: even when Kolb — and the gamers — determine to run it again, how lengthy will this championship window keep open? And is retaining the present core a sustainable possibility for the way forward for Liberty basketball?
HEALTH
The Liberty had a ton on accidents in 2025.
Within the WNBA’s longest season (44 video games), Stewart was restricted to 31 video games. And he or she performed harm in Video games 2 and three of the first-round sequence in opposition to the Phoenix Mercury as a consequence of a sprained MCL. Jones (ankle) additionally performed in 31 video games. Nyara Sabally (knee) appeared in simply 17 video games.
The Liberty’s Sixth Girl Kennedy Burke performed in 36 video games.
All through her Liberty tenure, Brondello spoke concerning the significance of managing starter’s minutes to make sure they aren’t beat up by the tip of the 12 months. Nevertheless, the minutes nonetheless stockpiled as a result of in tense moments, the very best gamers are all the time wanted.
Now, a brand new Liberty coach might have a distinct method with how minutes are distributed.
EXPANSION DRAFTS
The WNBA is ready to increase to fifteen groups with the addition of two extra franchises in 2026: the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fireplace.
The groups could have growth drafts to construct out their rosters, placing the Liberty vulnerable to having at the least one key participant poached.
Final season, Kayla Thornton received picked from the Liberty roster and landed in Golden State.
Every WNBA group protected as much as six gamers on their roster for that December draft. Gamers not protected have been up for grabs.
The foundations of growth drafts for the Tempo and Fireplace might be finalized upon settlement of a brand new CBA.
Nonetheless, the Liberty might once more be in place to re-tool after shedding a key contributor.
Thornton’s absence proved pricey as Brondello lacked her do-it-all defender down the stretch in key matchups. Her presence was additionally missed as Thornton incessantly saved the Liberty afloat when teammates have been unavailable as a consequence of accidents — a theme in 2025.
FREE AGENCY FRENZY
Assuming the league and the gamers affiliation come to phrases on a brand new CBA this fall, the WNBA will lastly expertise its highly-anticipated free company. Practically each participant will enter this winter as an unrestricted free agent with groups anticipated to be loaded with extra cash than ever to be distributed due to escalating nationwide tv offers.
The participant motion might be historic, which suggests potential adjustments for Liberty unrestricted free brokers: Stewart, Ionescu, Cloud, Jones, Cloud, Burke, Harrison, Meesseman and Stephanie Talbot.
The Liberty gamers made their intentions away from desirous to run it again, however what if Kolb has completely different plans?
If there was an opportunity to get youthful, this winter is the time to do it. And if the GM had doubts about among the finest head coaches in WNBA historical past, it’s attainable he might have doubts about gamers — even the celebs — and the way they match on the present roster.
For instance, Jones — the 6-6 engine of the group and 2024 playoff hero — might be 5 years faraway from her MVP season on the finish of 2026 marketing campaign. She’s little question nonetheless in All-Star kind and within the higher echelon of WNBA gamers, however a possible long-term deal ages her in Liberty seafoam as the remainder of the league will get higher, sooner and loaded with collegiate and worldwide prospects.
It’s a call Kolb has to make: run it again for a brief championship window or re-tool and put together for a extra sustainable future.
