Sandy Brondello, born August 20, 1968, in Mackay, Queensland, is an Australian basketball legend renowned as both a star player and elite coach.[1][4] She began playing at age nine, earning an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship in 1986-1987 and competing in the WNBL from 1986-1996 with teams like AIS, Bankstown, Sydney, and Brisbane, where she was leading scorer in 1994-1995, All-WNBL those years, and MVP in 1995.[1][3] Internationally, Brondello played 302 games for the Australian Opals, third-highest in team history, across four Olympics (1988, 1996, 2000, 2004), securing one bronze and two silvers, plus two bronzes at four World Championships (1990-2002).[1][2][4] In Europe, she won a 1996 Euroleague title with Wuppertal as Final Four MVP and was an All-Star in 1994, 1996, and 1997; in the WNBA (1998-2003) with Detroit, Miami, and Seattle, she started 150 of 159 games and earned 1999 All-Star honors.[1][3] Transitioning to coaching in 2005, she assisted the San Antonio Silver Stars (2005-2009), led them as head coach in 2010, and assisted the Los Angeles Sparks (2011-2013).[1][2] Appointed Phoenix Mercury head coach in 2013, she guided them to a 29-5 record, WNBA Championship over Chicago, and Coach of the Year in 2014, maintaining a career 60% winning percentage over 400+ games.[2][3] She coached the Opals from 2017, winning silver at the 2018 World Cup and bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with her contract extended to 2028.[2][3] After Phoenix (until 2021), Brondello joined the New York Liberty in 2022, leading them to the 2024 WNBA title over Minnesota (3-2), the Commissioner's Cup in 2023, and the 2025 All-Star Game.[2][3] Currently head coach of the Toronto Tempo, she was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame (2010) and Queensland Basketball Hall of Fame (2016), and received the 2000 Australian Sports Medal.[1][3][4]