The New York Liberty have fired Chris DeMarco after just one season as head coach, the team announced Tuesday.
DeMarco, who had no prior WNBA experience, led the Liberty through a rocky season that included a Commissioner’s Cup win in June before eventually finishing 26-18 and earning the No. 8 seed for the playoffs. The team swept the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 2-0 in the first round, becoming the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in league history.
But the Liberty were then swept 3-0 by the Atlanta Dream in the semifinals. The series included a massive Game 2 mistake by the Liberty coaching staff of not knowing they had a reset timeout left to use in the final seconds of the 101-98 loss.
After the Liberty were eliminated, DeMarco said he expected to return for the 2027 season. Instead, the franchise will be looking for its third head coach in three years. This will also be Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb‘s fourth coaching search since 2019.
DeMarco was named coach of the Liberty in December, after the franchise chose not to renew former coach Sandy Brondello‘s contract for the 2026 season. A former WNBA player as well as longtime coach of the Phoenix Mercury, Brondello’s four-year tenure with New York included leading the team to its first ever WNBA championship in 2024.
A former assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors, DeMarco arrived to New York with 14 years of NBA experience as well as having served as the coach of the Bahamas men’s national team from 2019 to 2025. When asked during his introductory news conference in December about how he was preparing to coach women for the first time in his career, DeMarco said he had “ordered every book on the New York Liberty you can find online.”
Following their final loss to Atlanta, Liberty stars Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones did not have much to say regarding DeMarco’s future with the franchise other than it wasn’t their decision.
But Stewart, who helped carry the team for much of its injury-laden season, said then that she “1000%” believed the team has the talent to win a championship and described the season as “a missed opportunity.”
“Of course we want to win a championship every single time we step on the court, but it’s really hard in this league,” Stewart said. “And in order to do that, you need to be consistent for the full 44 games … and I don’t think that we were consistent throughout the season. … This is not like cramming for a test, you got to be ready to go since the jump.”
The Liberty’s coaching vacancy is the second in the WNBA after the season. The Sparks fired second-year coach Lynn Roberts after the conclusion of the regular season in September.
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Jake Paul will return to the ring for the first time since losing to Anthony Joshua against a yet to be confirmed opponent on 24 December.
American Paul had two titanium plates fitted and some teeth removed after Joshua broke his jaw during their heavyweight bout in December 2025.
The 29-year-old influencer said in May that his boxing career was “most definitely” in doubt.
Paul will headline a card in Dubai on Christmas Eve, with several names understood to be in contention to be his opponent.
“I’ve spent years proving people wrong, taking risks, and pushing myself against opponents nobody thought I’d face,” Paul said.
“Nothing that’s happened has changed my belief in myself or what I’m working toward. I’m hungrier than ever.
“We’ve got plenty of names on the list; let’s see who signs the contract. Merry Christmas, Dubai. Santa Paul is coming to town, and somebody’s getting knocked out.”
Paul has won 12 of his 14 fights as a professional, with his two defeats coming against Tommy Fury and Joshua.
British light-welterweight Adam Azim is set to face Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela at London’s Copper Box on 4 December.
Azim last fought in May when he stopped Steve Claggett in three rounds at Wembley Arena live on BBC Two.
The 24-year-old is undefeated in 15 professional fights, winning 12 by stoppage, while Mexico’s Valenzuela holds a record of 32 wins, five losses and one draw.
BBC Sport understands the bout will serve as an IBF title eliminator, with the winner in line to challenge for the belt in early 2027.
Azim, who made his professional debut in 2020, has won each of his last six fights by knockout.
Valenzuela has lost two previous world title eliminator fights against Subriel Matias and Lindolfo Delgado in 2025.
The 32-year-old has earned 18 of his 32 wins by stoppage, including a knockout win in his last fight in May.
A NEW Spanish tourist tax being introduced this year is set to cause a hike in holiday costs.
The rule, which will be rolled out from the start of December, could see some holidaymakers slapped with an extra fee.
Tourists visiting Spain and the Canary Islands after December 1st, 2026, may have to pay an extra new charge if they opt for self-catering accommodation.
Those staying in apartments or villas booked via the likes of Airbnb could end up shelling out for an additional 10 per cent in VAT.
The tax, brought in by the Spanish Government, applies to qualifying furnished holiday rentals in popular travel destinations such as Ibiza, Mallorca, Barcelona and the Canary Islands.
Tourist accommodation in Spain has previously been exempt from VAT payments.
Any holiday home rented for 30 nights or fewer will be subject to the tax – unless the property is the landlord’s habitual home.
The government says that the VAT measure is being brought in to help combat the housing pressures faced by Spanish residents.
The Spanish property market is currently under strain due to the high amounts of apartments and houses being bought for short-term tourist use.
The new tax may not necessarily mean that tourists are forced to pay, though as it depends if the landlord of the holiday home decides to pay the additional VAT themselves.
Tourists are being urged to double check the price of bookings made for rental holiday homes before they pay.
Those booking accommodation that could be subject to the new tax should look carefully at the price breakdown of bookings
It is wise to check whether any additional VAT is included in the cost or whether paying it on top of the original booking will be a requirement.
