Liberty Begin Search for DeMarco’s Replacement

The New York Liberty have begun looking for their next head coach after Chris DeMarco’s one-year tenure ended. The team went through a lengthy hiring process a year ago before choosing DeMarco, a longtime assistant with the Golden State Warriors.

Three finalists from that previous search were Kristi Toliver, then an associate head coach with the Mercury; Will Weaver, a former Nets assistant; and Jama Mahlalela, an assistant with the Raptors. Whether the Liberty will revisit any of those candidates, or whether they would take part in another interview process, remains unclear.

The previous hire has prompted questions about what the team should prioritize this time. One view is that the Liberty should avoid hiring another head coach without prior head-coaching experience and bring their star players into the search, particularly Breanna Stewart. The search was underway as of November 3, 2026.