All of a sudden, the straightforward free agency of New York Liberty superstar Breanna Stewart has become a topic of debate.
The Liberty's decision to fire head coach Sandy Brondello on Tuesday took many observers by surprise -- and it came at a delicate moment for the franchise. Not only did New York's hopes of a repeat WNBA championship go up in flames during a first round loss to the Phoenix Mercury; the Liberty's hopes of retaining its core of star free-agents-to-be might have been impacted, too.
MORE: Firing Sandy Brondello is an overreaction the Liberty will come to regret
Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and others are ticketed for unrestricted free agency this offseason, pending the resolution of the players' collective bargaining negotiations with the league. Stewart, a two-time MVP and a three-time champion, threw her weight behind Brondello following the Liberty's playoff elimination and surely was unhappy with general manager Jonathan Kolb's decision to fire the second-winningest active coach in The W.
But in speaking to reporters on Thursday, Kolb seemed unconcerned with the speculation over Stewart, who tipped the balance of power in the WNBA when she joined the Liberty from the Seattle Storm before the 2023 season.
Kolb said he has the "utmost confidence" that Stewart, Ionescu and Jones will return to New York in 2026, when the Liberty hope to make a third WNBA Finals appearance in four years.
Jonathan Kolb on Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones: "I have the utmost confidence that they want to be back with us." (Q: @ClassicJpow)
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) September 25, 2025
Kolb has a "very clear vision" as to what the Liberty are looking for in their next head coach -- a person who will be tasked with convincing Stewart that her future remains in the Big Apple.
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