The New York Liberty, the lone remaining WNBA team without a head coach, reportedly have narrowed down their search to three finalists: Kristi Toliver, Will Weaver and Jama Mahlalela.
The New York Post’s Madeline Kenney first reported that Toliver, Weaver and an assistant coach with an Eastern Conference NBA team were the finalists before The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer identified Mahlalela as the third contender.
Mahlalela, currently an assistant with the Toronto Raptors, met with Liberty co-owner Clara Wu Tsai when the Raptors recently were in Brooklyn to play the Nets, according to Fischer.
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This is Mahlalela’s second stint with the Raptors, having previously served as an assistant coach and the head coach of Toronto’s G League affiliate, Raptors 905, before also working as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors. Mahlalela has no high-level experience in women’s basketball and, as Fischer noted, “It would be irregular timing for an NBA assistant coach to leave a franchise so early in the season.” (This would be an interesting twist considering former Chicago Sky head coach James Wade left his post to become an assistant with the Raptors at an “irregular” time during the 2023 WNBA season.)
Weaver, whose named emerged early in the Liberty’s search, likewise lacks women’s basketball experience, despite an otherwise lengthy resume that includes NBA and international experience. Currently a coaching consultant with the Charlotte Hornets, he previously was an assistant with the Nets, meaning Liberty ownership is familiar with him.
Will Kolb’s decision cause consternation?
Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb previously made a somewhat controversial head coaching hire in 2020. If Kolb opts for Mahlalela or Weaver over Toliver, the decision likely would provoke similar sentiments. Awhile back, I discussed how biases influence hiring processes on The Feed. Come add to the conversation.
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Toliver, of course, has bolstered her 14-year WNBA playing resume, which included two championships and three All-Star honors, with assistant coaching experience in the NBA and WNBA, serving on the staffs of the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks before joining Nate Tibbetts’ Phoenix Mercury staff before the 2024 season.
Tibbetts, as well as Mercury players, have endorsed Toliver’s candidacy and qualifications. During the WNBA Finals, Tibbetts suggested that Toliver, who served as the team’s acting head coach during Game 4 after Tibbetts’ ejection, is “ready” and “deserving,” while Alyssa Thomas praised Toliver’s commitment to the team and described her as “a phenomenal coach” who is “ready for this moment.”
The Liberty are expected to make the hire as soon as next week.
