'Who would have thought': From Mackay to WNBA record-breaker

• Sandy Brondello won her 101st game as New York Liberty head coach, breaking the all-time wins record for the WNBA franchise
• Brondello is atwo-time WNBA championship coach with the Mercury in 2014 and Liberty in 2024
• She led the Opals to a bronze medal at last year's Olympics in Paris

From the farm in regional Queensland, to a three-time Olympian as a player, Olympic medal-winning coach, a two-time WNBA champion and now a record holder as the all-time winningest coach for the New York Liberty.

Sandy Brondello etched her name in the history books, once again, earlier this week when she recorded her 101st win as New York's coach when the Liberty beat the LA Sparks at Crypto.com arena. The victory helped her eclipse former New York Knicks assistant coach, Richie Adubato, who had held the mark for 25 years.

Since taking over the Liberty in 2022 after seven years with the Phoenix Mercury, the Australian Opals coach has taken New York to new heights - winning the 2024 WNBA championship with All-Stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu leading the way.

But even after such a remarkable achievement, Brondello couldn't help but think of where she came from.

"Who would have thought a sugar cane father’s daughter could now be leading a New York team," the Mackay product told basketball.com.au.

"I am grateful for all the opportunities basketball have given me."

As for what it meant to her, Brondello said she wasn't focused on that at the moment, instead directing her full attention to the Liberty's title defence, where they sit third on the WNBA standings with a 21-12 record.

"I was just happy we beat LA and not the record," she said.

"I am sure it will mean more when I retire. Right now I am just focused on our season."

Brondello has coached some of the greatest female players in history during her 12 seasons as a WNBA head coach, such as Diana Taurasi and Brittany Griner in Phoenix to Stewart, Ionescu and Jonquel Jones in New York. And the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame member said she pinched herself at the opportunity to coach some of the best to do it and said the current Liberty trio were a special combination.

"Stewie, JJ and Sabrina are some of the best players in the world but they are even better people," she said.

"It makes my job easier coaching humble and hardworking players who want to win."

While Brondello's Liberty sit in third on the ladder, the Minnesota Lynx are sitting pretty in first place with Opals star Alanna Smith having her best season yet, even touted as a Defensive Player of the Year favourite. Smith is second in blocks this season, just in front of Opals frontcourt partner Ezi Magbegor from the Seattle Storm.

Despite doing her best to beat them for the WNBA championship, Brondello said it was great to see these Opals stars dominating at the highest level.

"Having so many Opals doing so well shows the depth of talent we have," she said.

"Alanna and Ezi continue to grow as a players and while they have created hard match-ups for the Liberty, I am happy to see them both perform so well. Alanna is definitely a strong candidate for DPOY."