WATCH TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS with Megan Hustwaite weekly on Thursday from 7pm (AEDT) via , or catch up via , or at the top of this article.
Following a brilliant playing career in the WNBL and WNBA, Brondello has established herself as one of the top coaches in women’s basketball.
A three-time Olympic medallist during her playing days, the 52-year-old took the helm at the Mercury in 2013y, before leading them to a WNBA title only a year later in 2014.
In 2017, Brondello took over as coach of the Opals and had an immediate impact as Australia took the gold medal at the Commonwealth games the following year, before finishing second at the World Cup later in 2018.
However, 2020 was a very different season for Brondello as the Opals Olympic preparations were put on hold and the WNBA season were forced to play a condensed season behind closed doors in a bubble, due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
Dubbed the 'Wubble', the WNBA season played its full season in under 100 days at the IMG Academy in Florida.
While it was a mixed season results-wise for the Mercury, Brondello said she enjoyed the unique challenges faced during the ‘Wubble’ season.
“The fact we were able to come back and play the season despite everything going on in the world was incredible so for me I just enjoyed that we were playing,” Brondello said.
“With it being such a tight schedule, as a coach, it felt like a chess game every single day.
“It was very intense and at times was a bit like groundhog day as your either preparing or playing.
“It was very tiring for everyone, but it was a great experience and I’m very thankful that we were able to safely play out the season.”
The interview was the latest as part of new SBS series - TAB Courtside 1v1 hosted by Megan Hustwaite, giving fans a chance to get to know more about the unique personalities from the NBA, WNBA, NBL and WNBL, which help shape basketball in Australia.
Hustwaite, who has been covering all levels of Australian basketball for the past 13 years as a reporter, commentator and journalist, will helm the weekly show - every Thursday at 7pm (AEDT) - where she interviews stars of the past, present and future.
WATCH the next episode of TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS with Megan Hustwaite on Thursday, January 21 at 7pm (AEDT) via , or catch up via .
Brondello discussed numerous topics with Hustwaite, including the following:
0:33 - Opals starting the year with a camp
1:10 - 2020 for Brondello started with Olympic qualification in France
2:21 - Brondello’s experience as a coach in the ‘’Wubble’’
3:00 – How 2020 was a learning experience for the Phoenix Mercury
4:04 – Brondello’s family first focus
4:45 - Being in Australia for the WNBL hub season
5:40 - The standard of the #WNBL20 competition
6:30 - Brondello on Shyla Heal
8:06 - What it will mean to coach the Opals at an Olympic Games
9:15 - Visualises ‘’joy and total happiness’’ winning an Olympic gold medal
10:12 - Final touches to an Opals Olympic team
10:40 - Not just worried about beating USA
13:08 - What it’s like coaching Liz Cambage ‘’one of the best players in the world’’
SBS will again broadcast multiple regular-season NBA games per week in HD on SBS VICELAND and streamed live via SBS On Demand. Plus, every game of the upcoming 2020-21 NBL season will be LIVE, FREE and in HD via , with select games also live on SBS VICELAND.
