ESPN Icon Linda Cohn Urges Liberty to Target Franchise Legend Teresa Weatherspoon for Head Coach

Following the dismissal of Chris DeMarco, ESPN's Linda Cohn made the case for Hall of Famer and five-time WNBA All-Star Teresa Weatherspoon to become the Liberty's next head coach.

The New York Liberty suddenly find themselves back on the coaching market after parting ways with DeMarco on Tuesday morning.

His departure ended a turbulent tenure that lasted just a single season at the helm in Brooklyn.

General manager Jonathan Kolb now faces the daunting task of finding the team's third head coach in three seasons.

With championship expectations firmly in place, the decision looms as one of the most consequential moves of New York's offseason.

Cohn believes the Liberty front office should look directly to the most beloved era in franchise history for their answer.

A LEGEND IN THE CONVERSATION

Cohn voiced strong support for Weatherspoon as New York begins exploring candidates across the basketball landscape.

She highlighted Weatherspoon's unique standing in the organization's history alongside her extensive coaching credentials.

"Teresa Weatherspoon. You want a band that would get Liberty some big-time fan attention. Spoon. A franchise icon with the Liberty. With professional coaching experience, including as a WNBA head coach. Why not T-Spoon? She belongs in the conversation when you’re talking about the next head coach for the Liberty."

The Hall of Famer remains one of the defining figures of the WNBA since its inaugural campaign in 1997.

Weatherspoon spent seven unforgettable seasons wearing New York colors as the undisputed floor general of the team.

She captured WNBA Defensive Player of the Year honors twice during her dominant run in the backcourt.

Her relentless play also earned her five WNBA All-Star selections as the Liberty established themselves as a league powerhouse.

Behind her vocal leadership, New York reached the WNBA Finals four separate times during the league's formative years.

Her crowning playing highlight arrived in Game 2 of the 1999 WNBA Finals against the Houston Comets.

With New York facing elimination, Weatherspoon launched an unforgettable half-court shot at the buzzer that banked in for the victory.

That miraculous play, known simply as "The Shot," remains one of the most famous moments in women's basketball history.

A BROAD COACHING RESUME

Beyond her decorated playing career, Weatherspoon brings a deep well of coaching experience across multiple levels of the sport.

She began building her head coaching credentials at her alma mater, Louisiana Tech, leading the Lady Techsters for six seasons.

During her tenure in Ruston, she compiled an overall record of 99-71 while revitalizing the proud collegiate program.

She guided Louisiana Tech to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in both 2010 and 2011.

Her squad also captured the Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship under her watch in 2010.

Weatherspoon eventually transitioned to professional development, returning to New York to work in player development for the Liberty.

Her work caught the attention of the NBA, leading her to the New Orleans Pelicans organization in 2019.

She initially mentored two-way players before earning a promotion to full-time NBA assistant coach on the Pelicans' bench.

Weatherspoon returned to the WNBA head coaching ranks in 2024 when she took charge of the Chicago Sky.

Her lone season in Chicago proved challenging, resulting in a 13-27 finish and a missed postseason berth.

The Sky front office fired her after that single campaign, a decision that drew immediate public criticism from rookie standout Angel Reese.

Reese had flourished during her first professional season under Weatherspoon's direct mentorship in Chicago.

THE DEMARCO EXPERIMENT ENDS

DeMarco's swift exit in New York underscores the extreme pressure surrounding the Liberty's championship window.

He arrived in New York in December 2025 after spending fourteen seasons on the Golden State Warriors' coaching staff.

During his time in the NBA, DeMarco helped Golden State capture four NBA championship titles as an assistant coach.

However, he stepped onto the Liberty sideline without any previous coaching experience inside the WNBA.

New York produced a 26-18 record during the regular season, a mark that left them eighth in the overall standings.

Despite entering the postseason in the bottom seed, the Liberty authored a stunning first-round shocker.

They knocked off the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, becoming the first eighth seed in WNBA history to eliminate a number one seed.

DeMarco also guided the roster to a midseason trophy by winning the WNBA Commissioner's Cup.

Yet the momentum created by that historic upset over Minnesota vanished almost immediately in the next round.

The Atlanta Dream swept New York out of the playoffs in three consecutive games in the semifinals.

COSTLY ERRORS AND SQUAD DISCONTENT

The semifinal sweep by Atlanta exposed deep-seated issues that had lingered across the Liberty's campaign.

A glaring tactical breakdown in Game 2 against Atlanta became a major flashpoint for DeMarco's critics.

The Liberty failed to recognize that they still possessed an available reset timeout late in overtime.

Because of that confusion on the sideline, Breanna Stewart was forced to take a difficult, contested shot instead of running an organized set.

Throughout the year, New York also grappled with continuous health setbacks that disrupted their tactical continuity.

Key forward Satou Sabally suffered a concussion that restricted her to just thirteen game appearances in 2026.

Star guard Sabrina Ionescu also missed several games due to injury problems.

The resulting lineup instability prevented DeMarco from ever finding dependable combinations during crucial stretches.

Stewart was reportedly forced to take on expanded leadership responsibilities to keep the locker room steady.

When the season concluded, the team's core superstars noticeably refrained from offering public backing to their coach.