As the WNBA season tips off, all eyes are on the sideline. The Coach of the Year award typically goes to the head coach who gets the most out of their roster—exceeding expectations and turning potential into wins. While every bench boss has a shot, a few early frontrunners are already making a case for the honor. Here are three coaches who could separate themselves as COY contenders this season.
Becky Hammon, Las Vegas Aces
It might seem counterintuitive to pick the coach of a defending champion for this award, but Becky Hammon is no stranger to defying logic. The Aces are in the midst of a dynasty, and expectations are sky-high. For Hammon to win her second Coach of the Year honor, she’ll need to lead her team to unprecedented excellence. If Las Vegas goes on a historic tear and posts a regular-season record that leaves the league in awe, the voters may have no choice but to recognize her brilliance once again.
Stephanie White, Indiana Fever
The Fever were already a solid team last season, but with Caitlin Clark back and more experienced, they’re primed to become something special. Stephanie White has the pieces to turn Indiana from a top-four team into the league’s true juggernaut. To do that, she’ll need to push all the right buttons: maximizing Aliyah Boston’s dominance, balancing Clark’s roles as both on-ball creator and off-ball threat, and stacking wins along the way. If the Fever can compile a record that surpasses the Aces and Liberty, White’s resume will be hard to ignore. All early indicators suggest this is the most realistic path to a COY campaign in Indiana.
Sandy Brondello, Toronto Tempo
Sandy Brondello is a proven winner, having achieved everything possible with the Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty. Now, she faces a new challenge: leading an expansion team, the Toronto Tempo, to unexpected success. Can she establish a winning culture from day one and earn enough victories to turn heads? A successful season similar to what we’ve seen from other expansion teams could put Brondello squarely in the COY conversation. It’s a long shot, but if anyone can build something special from scratch, it’s her.
Whether it’s maintaining a dynasty, unlocking a superstar’s potential, or building from the ground up, these three coaches have the toughest jobs—and the brightest chances—to claim the WNBA’s top coaching honor.