There’s a brand new period for girls’s basketball in New York and Chris DeMarco is chargeable for main the cost.
DeMarco agreed to be the following head coach of the Liberty after GM Jonathan Kolb underwent a two-month search with the aim to “evolve” so as to keep fashionable in an ever-changing WNBA panorama.
So what does that appear to be for a Liberty workforce hoping to maintain its championship window open?
DeMarco, a 13-year assistant coach within the NBA with the Golden State Warriors, is predicted to hold his hat on protection. He’s been in command of the Warriors’ protection since 2018.
That very same dedication to that finish of the ground ought to stay as quickly as Demarco formally begins his work with the Liberty.
Having Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones — each unrestricted free brokers Kolb expects to return — nonetheless exhibiting elite protection as anchors within the paint works in Demarco’s favor and is an effective start line because the Liberty work to get again atop the WNBA in defensive classes.
The Liberty ranked sixth in each defensive ranking and opponents factors per recreation in 2025 after rating third in these classes in 2024.
The returns of 2024 All-Defensive Staff awardees Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (knee damage) and Natasha Cloud (UFA) bolster the perimeter defending, too.
DeMarco’s time main protection in Golden State for Steve Kerr resulted within the Warriors rating within the high half of defensive classes quite a few occasions.
On the workforce’s peak, they dominated with gamers — undersized or not — shopping for in to a scheme that includes versatility and switching.
In some years with DeMarco on the sideline, the Warriors’ protection was considered the most effective within the NBA. They had been anticipated to generate stops in key moments. They usually had been very profitable doing so.
Whether or not it was an undersized stalwart like Draymond Inexperienced, a defensive workhouse in his prime like Klay Thompson, a freakishly lengthy athlete like Kevin Durant, or a 6-6 ahead like Andre Iguodala defending greater frontcourt gamers, the Warriors had been a nightmare for opposing offenses to recreation plan in opposition to.
DeMarco will now try to duplicate that with the Liberty.
SPLASH SISTER
Sabrina Ionescu is already touted as one of many recreation’s finest level guards.
However with a brand new offensive philosophy, there’s an opportunity her recreation can attain a brand new degree in Brooklyn.
The Warriors thrived on pushing tempo, eliminating an excessive amount of isolation basketball and utilizing the inspiration of the triangle offense to get key gamers open whereas permitting all 5 on the ground to stay scoring threats.
The basketball world turned enamored with how a lot off-ball motion and screens acquired gamers open for straightforward photographs.
Ionescu — a 35% three-point shooter in her profession — could possibly be subsequent in line to profit from those self same actions.
After firing Sandy Brondello, Kolb talked about in his end-of-season presser that the Liberty would “stagnate as the [shot] clock” winded down. He additionally famous the workforce would go east to west too typically on possessions.
Lots of these possessions occurred with Ionescu on the ball. That subject might change in 2026.
Coincidentally, one other former Warriors assistant turned New York head coach — Knicks’ Mike Brown — is unleashing the identical play model with All-Star guard Jalen Brunson: much less iso-ball, fewer possessions with the shot clock winding down and him working more durable for photographs, and simpler, extra open seems to be because of off-ball actions.
The identical could possibly be in retailer for Ionescu.
