Can new coach help Liberty take that next step?

The reporters walked into the Liberty’s private little world at Barclays Center.

They followed general manager Jonathan Kolb into the players’ lounge with the large TV up front, then to the NBA-like locker room with an extra-large team logo encircled overhead, then to the pristine shower and makeup area, and then beyond to the other amenities.

“When you’re here, you feel like a pro and you know the level of investment that’s behind you as well,” Kolb said on this recent Media Day tour in advance of the Liberty’s 26th WNBA season tipping off Saturday night in Brooklyn against Connecticut.

Now the results just need to start catching up to the surroundings.

The Liberty were 31-91 over the past four seasons. They went from 2-20 in 2020 to 12-20 last year and grabbed the eighth and final playoff ticket, their first since 2017. But they were one-and-done. Phoenix edged them by a point.

The Mercury didn’t renew Sandy Brondello’s coaching contract after eight playoff trips and one title in eight seasons. The Liberty hired the proven winner to replace Walt Hopkins and move them forward.

They still aren’t expected to contend for their first crown. They generally aren’t even viewed now among the top eight. But they have the potential to continue their improvement and make another run at the postseason.  

“To be quite honest, when I talk about ‘what’s the vision,’ it’s to have sustainable success, but also be process driven,” Brondello said. “I don’t want to put a limit on what we can do because then you’re adding pressure to a team that’s still new and still learning.

“But I just think if we can come and give our best performance each and every game, hopefully we can surprise a lot of people.”    

A notable newcomer is 6-5 Stefanie Dolson. The 30-year-old center signed after helping Chicago beat Brondello’s Mercury in the 2021 finals.

“We needed a big body,” Brondello said. “She’s someone who’s a really great leader, can defend those really big post players, has championship qualities.”

All-Star guard/forward Betnijah Laney, forward Natasha Howard, guard Sami Whitcomb and guard/forward Rebecca Allen are also important veteran elements.

There are several younger pieces. 

Point guard Sabrina Ionescu, who will also play some off the ball, is crucial to the cause. The top overall pick in 2020 is fine physically after two years of ankle issues.

Forward Michaela Onyenwere, who claimed rookie of the year, and all-rookie guard/forward DiDi Richards will try to build on their promising debut seasons.

Then there are the comeback cases.

Guard Asia Durr, the 2019 second overall pick, returns after missing two seasons with long COVID.

“One thing that’s been challenging is post-COVID just like the brain fog, confusion, stuff like that,” Durr said. “But I have great teammates that are there to help me think through it and just push through.”

Forward/guard Jocelyn Willoughby, the 2020 10th overall pick, also returns after a torn Achilles sidelined her for last season. And 6-10 center Han Xu, who played for the Liberty as a rookie in 2019, is back, too.

“I think it’s [about] laying down the foundation of years of Liberty basketball,” Ionescu said. “… Sometimes, especially with a new coaching staff and a lot of new pieces, that can take years to kind of come forth. But I think for all of us, there’s a sense of urgency. We don’t want to wait a couple of years to get to the playoffs. We know we have the talent to do that now.”