Sandy Brondello to extend Opals contract after a year to remember on the WNBA and Olympic stage

After a year to remember across the WNBA and the Olympics, Sandy Brondello is set to extend her reign leading the Australian Opals, with sights set on Los Angeles in 2028.

Sandy Brondello is set to re-sign as Australian Opals coach on a multi-year deal through to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Code Sports can reveal Brondello’s extension has been set in stone for weeks, but Basketball Australia is yet to make an official announcement.

The looming Opals deal caps off a successful period for the Mackay-born mentor after she led the Opals to bronze at the 2024 Paris Games.

Just months after standing on the Olympic dais, Brondello guided the New York Liberty to the franchise’s first WNBA championship.

Sandy Brondello led the Liberty to WNBA success Picture: ANGELA WEISS / AFP.

The 56-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in women’s basketball on the world stage.

Brondello was a successful player in their own right, winning two silvers and a bronze medal during her stellar international career with the Opals.

She has passed on this passion for her country as a coach and it shows in her record to date.

Brondello led the Opals to a silver medal at the 2018 World Cup in Spain, while he helped the Aussies collect a bronze at the 2022 World Cup in Sydney.

The 2021 Tokyo Olympic campaign didn’t go to plan, with the Australians bombing out in the quarter-final stage.

The Opals hit the podium in Paris. Picture: Adam Head

Brondello made amends in Paris last year, steering the Opals to a bronze medal to send the legendary Lauren Jackson out in style with a podium appearance.

The Australian women’s program has a bright future thanks to the likes of Ezi Magbegor, Alanna Smith and young guns Jade Melbourne and Isobel Borlase.

Brondello will be determined to continue the Opals’ proud international record, which has set the standard for Aussie hoops.

The Opals have won three silver and three bronze medals at the Olympics, while they’ve collected four bronze, a silver and a gold medal on the World Cup stage.

Originally published as Sandy Brondello to extend Opals contract after a year to remember on the WNBA and Olympic stage