Episode 145: Sandy Brondello, Coaching Unique Talent

Guest: Sandy Brondello, WNBA Head Coach

In this week’s basketball coaching conversation, WNBA head coach Sandy Brondello joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss defensive coverages and coaching top talent.

Coach Brondello is the current head coach and VP of player personnel of the Phoneix Mercury. She took over the helm in 2013 and made an instant impact. During her first season, Brondello coached her team to the best record in the league, won coach of the year honors, and took home the WNBA championship. She has continued to have consistent success taking her team to the playoffs in every season. In just her 7 years with the Mercury, she has become the winningest coach in franchise history and holds an impressive 17-13 record in the postseason. Also, Sandy Brondello has coached and optimized the play of notable WNBA players like Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and Skylar Diggins.

Before Phoneix, Brondello was an assistant with the San Antonio Silver Stars WNBA team from 2005-2009. She then moved on to the Los Angeles Sparks as an assistant and influenced a few of their playoff runs. Sandy is also the current head coach of the Australian Women's National Team. Brondellos has continued to help grow the game and make women's basketball prevalent in Australia.

Sandy also had a fantastic playing career where she racked up several accolades across the world. During her 17 year career, she was a WNBA all-star, Australian league MVP, and 2-time European cup MVP. Most notably, Brondello guided her nation to 3 Olympic medals from 1996-2004.

Breakdown

1:00 - WNBA vs International Games

3:00 - Ball Movement

5:00 - Two Dominant Bigs that She Handled

7:00 - Size vs Skill Set Advantages at the Rim?

12:00 - Things to Work on Unique Talents

15:00 - Taurasi on Ball Screen

17:00 - Duplicating Unique Talents

20:30 - Conversation on Unique Talents

24:00 - Coaching Guards

27:00 - Biggest Challenge Playing with Dominant Post Player

30:00 - Defensive Philosophies