{"id":490821,"date":"2026-01-04T02:52:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T02:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/490821\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T02:52:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T02:52:10","slug":"klay-thompson-expects-great-things-from-chris-demarco-with-new-york-liberty-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/490821\/","title":{"rendered":"Klay Thompson Expects ‘Great Things’ From Chris DeMarco With New York Liberty [Exclusive]"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Klay Thompson<\/a>, Chris DeMarco becoming the head coach of the WNBA\u2019s New York Liberty feels less like a sudden rise and more like a long-anticipated outcome shaped by years of unseen work. <\/p>\n

The two spent countless hours together during DeMarco\u2019s 14-season run with the Golden State Warriors, where DeMarco developed a reputation as one of the organization\u2019s most trusted voices in player development and on-court systems.<\/p>\n

As DeMarco now steps into one of the most prominent coaching roles in women\u2019s basketball, Thompson views the moment through the lens of shared history rather than title alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cChris DeMarco and I have been through so much together \u2014 countless hours in the gym. I can\u2019t even quantify it,\u201d Thompson told DallasHoopsJournal.com<\/a>. \u201cHe\u2019s a real grinder, and I know he\u2019s going to do great things with Sabrina and Stewy in New York. It\u2019s exciting. He deserves this.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Championship Pedigree Meets a Championship Window<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Liberty formally introduced DeMarco as the franchise\u2019s new head coach this week, entrusting him with a roster led by Sabrina Ionescu<\/a> and Breanna Stewart<\/a> as New York enters a clear win-now phase. DeMarco arrives after 11 seasons as an assistant coach under Steve Kerr<\/a> in Golden State, where he helped guide the Warriors to four NBA championships (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022) and contributed to one of the most successful dynasties in modern basketball history.<\/p>\n

Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said the organization\u2019s priority was finding a leader capable of sustaining elite standards while continuing to evolve.<\/p>\n

\u201cThroughout the process, our goal was clear: identify a leader who could elevate our culture, implement elite-level systems, and bring a modern vision for how to guide this franchise forward on the court,\u201d Kolb said in a statement.<\/p>\n

From Thompson\u2019s perspective, DeMarco\u2019s readiness stems from preparation rather than opportunity.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m genuinely so happy for him,\u201d Thompson told DallasHoopsJournal.com<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s an incredible gig \u2014 to step into a situation with that much talent. He\u2019s going to make the city proud.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Brotherhood Built Through the Grind<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thompson\u2019s confidence carries weight because it comes from proximity. Their relationship was forged not by headlines but by repetition, adversity, and trust built over time inside the Warriors\u2019 gym.<\/p>\n

\u201cChris is a brother for life to me,\u201d Thompson told DallasHoopsJournal.com<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019ve been through everything together. He\u2019s seen my highest highs and my lowest lows.\u201d<\/p>\n

That journey included climbing the mountain again after initial success.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe climbed that mountain again and won another ring together \u2014 that was special,\u201d Thompson said to DallasHoopsJournal.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Under DeMarco\u2019s tenure, Golden State consistently operated at an elite level. Over the past 10 seasons, the Warriors held opponents to the league\u2019s second-lowest shot quality (49.9% qSQ), according to Second Spectrum, while also leading the NBA in net rating three times and producing a record-setting 73-win season in 2015\u201316.<\/p>\n

Impact Beyond the NBA and WNBA<\/strong><\/p>\n

While DeMarco\u2019s new role places him squarely in the WNBA spotlight, Thompson emphasized that his influence extends well beyond professional club basketball. <\/p>\n

Since 2019, DeMarco has served as head coach of the Bahamas Men\u2019s National Basketball Team, guiding the program to its most significant win by defeating host Argentina in the 2024 Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament final.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat he\u2019s done for Bahamian basketball has been huge,\u201d Thompson told DallasHoopsJournal.com<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019re right on the cusp of qualifying for the World Games or the Olympics, and he\u2019s elevated the entire program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thompson also acknowledged those working alongside DeMarco in that effort.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I can\u2019t forget Jonquel [Jones], my Bahamian assistant,\u201d Thompson added.<\/p>\n

The Right Fit at the Right Time<\/strong><\/p>\n

Liberty governor Clara Wu Tsai described DeMarco\u2019s hiring as a deliberate and collaborative decision as New York approaches its 30th anniversary season in 2026. DeMarco, 40, becomes the 10th head coach in franchise history, joining an organization with championship expectations and a global platform.<\/p>\n

For Thompson, the fit comes down to character as much as credentials.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s such a down-to-earth, humble guy who genuinely loves and respects the game,\u201d Thompson told DallasHoopsJournal.com<\/a>. \u201cHe\u2019s going to do great things in the W.\u201d<\/p>\n

As DeMarco begins his tenure in Brooklyn, expectations will be immediate and the margin for error narrow. But if Thompson\u2019s perspective is any indication, the Liberty are gaining more than a head coach.<\/p>\n

They are gaining a grinder whose preparation has been years in the making.<\/p>\n

More WNBA News & Rumors<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For Klay Thompson, Chris DeMarco becoming the head coach of the WNBA\u2019s New York Liberty feels less like…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":490822,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[5336,190432,3140,3364,1520,15534,62,67,132,68,232,1706],"class_list":{"0":"post-490821","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wnba","8":"tag-breanna-stewart","9":"tag-chris-demarco","10":"tag-golden-state-warriors","11":"tag-klay-thompson","12":"tag-new-york-liberty","13":"tag-sabrina-ionescu","14":"tag-sports","15":"tag-united-states","16":"tag-unitedstates","17":"tag-us","18":"tag-wnba","19":"tag-wnba-news"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115834568304527483","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/490821","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=490821"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/490821\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/490822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=490821"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=490821"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=490821"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}