AUSTIN (KXAN) — Sandy Brondello, Noelle Quinn, Curt Miller, Lisa Leslie… these are the names being dribbled around basketball-related social media posts and news outlets, as speculation swirls over who could become the next head coach for the sole Texas women’s pro basketball team.
The Dallas Wings announced Tuesday that it parted ways with head coach Chris Koclanes after the team finished the regular season tied for the WNBA’s worst record at 10-34.
According to ESPN, Koclanes was hired by Dallas executive vice president and general manager Curt Miller after serving as an assistant coach under Miller with the Los Angeles Sparks. He was in the position for one season.
ESPN noted that the Wings were expected to drastically improve compared to the prior season, after drafting Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 pick and acquiring DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith as part of a four-team trade before the season.
The Wings’ announcement, attributed to Miller, thanked Koclanes for his contributions to the team, but said the team is entering a “pivotal point” in its future and “felt a change in leadership at this time was best for our organization.”
“With new team facilities being built, a youthful roster under contract, and the rights to three first round draft selections over the next two seasons, including a lottery pick in 2026, the Wings are well-positioned for future success. As we enter a pivotal point in our team’s future, we felt a change in leadership at this time was best for our organization. The Dallas Wings remain dedicated to their pursuit of WNBA Championships and building upon the strong culture established on and off the court,” the announcement read.
The Wings immediately started a national search for a new head coach.
With the start of that search came the start of a firestorm of speculation over who could take the position next season.
Wings head coach prospects
Just Women’s Sports posted about Koclanes’ departure on Instagram Tuesday evening, then followed that post with another asking fans who they’d like to see as the next coach.
The post featured a slideshow of a few notable names in women’s basketball, suggesting that they could be among the Wings’ head coach prospects. Those were Sandy Brondello, Noelle Quinn, Lisa Leslie, and a slide showing a photo of Teresa Weatherspoon, with a text graphic reading, “Other?”
Sports Illustrated published its own story about the Dallas team’s future coach possibilities. It also listed Brondello and Quinn, but threw Miller’s name into the hat, too.
Here’s a breakdown of each coach:
Curt Miller
Miller is already with the Wings as the team’s executive vice president and general manager. He came to Dallas a little less than a year ago, after two years as head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks. Before that, he spent seven seasons with the Connecticut Sun as general manager and head coach, according to the Wings website.
Miller was named the 2017 WNBA Executive of the Year and two-time Coach of the Year in 2017, and 2021. He has a 165-141 record over nine seasons (2016-24) as a head coach, per the Dallas team’s website.
Sandy Brondello
Brondello is another WNBA head coach who was relieved of her position following the team’s season end. Though unlike the Koclanes departure, Brondello was let go after a relatively successful year with the New York Liberty, and just a year after securing the team’s first-ever championship.
Brondello was hired to coach the Liberty in December 2021 and went 107-53 in her four seasons with the Liberty, according to ESPN.
Prior to joining the Liberty, Brondello served as head coach of the Phoenix Mercury for eight seasons, where she led the franchise to a WNBA Championship in 2014, two Finals appearances, and playoff appearances in each of her eight seasons, according to the Liberty’s website. The 2014 WNBA Championship also earned her the Coach of the Year Award.
She also served as head coach of the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2010 after serving as assistant coach of the team since 2005.
Noelle Quinn
Another coach fired after the 2025 WNBA season, Noelle Quinn is up for grabs. She most recently served as head coach for the Seattle Storm, the team she concluded her own WNBA career with in 2018, winning the championship that year.
Quinn became an assistant to Storm coach Dan Hughes in 2019, then took over as head coach early in the 2021 season when Hughes stepped down, per ESPN.
ESPN reported that Quinn had highs and lows as the Storm’s head coach; one of the highs being the semifinal run in 2022 that marked the conclusion of Sue Bird’s career. A low, ESPN pointed out, was a dispute between Quinn and her staff and longtime guard Jewell Loyd that led to Loyd’s departure and trade to the Las Vegas Aces.
Lisa Leslie
Though basketball legend Lisa Leslie has said she’s not interested in coaching a WNBA team after being rejected by two different teams last year, some fans are bringing her name into the conversation for Dallas… or to take over as WNBA Commissioner, as many people, including current players, have become disgruntled with current Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s leadership.
Regardless of who becomes Dallas’ next head coach, the team has the best odds of yet again getting the No. 1 draft pick, which would put them in a position to become a team to watch out for.
Top prospects for the draft are Lauren Betts of UCLA, Azzi Fudd of UConn (a former teammate and current girlfriend of Bueckers), Olivia Miles from TCU, Ta’Niya Latson from South Carolina, and Flau’jae Johnson of LSU.
Fans are getting excited, and Texas could easily become one of the most talked-about states for women’s basketball, with the UT women’s program projected to be one of the top NCAA teams of the upcoming season.
Plus, if Dallas does draw the No. 1 pick again, Fudd and Bueckers could likely wind up teammates again. Who wouldn’t want that?
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
