The firing of Sandy Brondello prompted exactly the reaction it should have. Shock. Bafflement. Serious questioning of the strategy at play. For obvious reasons, that questioning lingers as the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury compete for a WNBA championship. So does more general questioning around respect, loyalty and league leadership with the increasingly contentious CBA negotiations underway. See the comments Lynx forward Napheesa Collier made last week regarding “the worst leadership in the world” and why Commissioner Cathy Engelbert couldn’t — or wouldn’t — do better by players.

The unquestioned facts about Brondello: She finished her time with the New York Liberty as the winningest head coach in team history. The Liberty and Brondello parted ways less than a year after she led the franchise to its first WNBA title. Star Breanna Stewart fully, unequivocally supported Brondello after the Liberty exited the playoffs in the first round. “She has our back, and we have hers,” said Stewart.

The statements that Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb made about the firing were less clear. At a one-man press conference, he said the Liberty “determined that evolution and innovation is what is needed at this time.” He talked about a “massive opportunity” ahead, with an unprecedented number of free agents available this offseason. He also said he had the........

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