The New York Liberty are searching for a new head coach after firing Chris DeMarco following one season, and ESPN legend Linda Cohn has a familiar name in mind as the franchise weighs its next move.

The candidate has deep ties to New York along with coaching experience in the WNBA, NBA, and college basketball.

Linda Cohn Makes Case for Teresa Weatherspoon as Liberty Coach

Cohn praised Teresa Weatherspoon while discussing the Liberty, saying, “Teresa Weatherspoon. You want a band that would get Liberty some big-time fan attention. Spoon. A franchise icon with the Liberty. With professional coaching experience, including as a WNBA head coach. Why not T-Spoon? She belongs in the conversation when you’re talking about the next head coach for the Liberty.”

The Hall of Famer is one of the WNBA’s pioneers and remains a popular figure in New York. She played seven seasons with the Liberty, earning five All-Star selections and winning WNBA Defensive Player of the Year twice.

The former Liberty star also helped guide New York to the WNBA Finals four times and made one of the most iconic shots in league history during the 1999 Finals. She hit a half-court game-winner in Game 2 against the Houston Comets.

Her coaching career includes six seasons leading Louisiana Tech, where she compiled a 99-71 record and guided the Lady Techsters to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2010 and 2011. She also won the Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship in 2010.

The five-time All-Star previously worked in player development for the Liberty before joining the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019. She initially worked with the team’s two-way players and later served as an NBA assistant coach.

She returned to the WNBA as head coach of the Chicago Sky in 2024. Chicago finished 13-27 and missed the playoffs, and she was fired after one season. The decision drew criticism from Angel Reese, who had played her rookie season under Weatherspoon.

DeMarco, meanwhile, guided the Liberty through injuries to key players, including Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally, and helped the team win the Commissioner’s Cup. New York also upset the Minnesota Lynx in the first round of the playoffs before losing to the Atlanta Dream in the semifinals.

DeMarco faced criticism after New York failed to use a reset timeout late in Game 2 against Atlanta. Questions about his future grew after Breanna Stewart, Ionescu and Jonquel Jones declined to endorse him following the season. The Liberty subsequently fired him after one year.

Weatherspoon’s history with New York extends beyond her playing career. She also worked in franchise development during her previous stint with the Liberty, giving her experience both within the organization and on the sidelines.

If she started a second chapter as a WNBA head coach, Cohn believes there’s no better place than where she made history.