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As the end of 2021 draws near, WNBA.com is wrapping up this 25th season by recapping each team’s season. Take a look back at notable contributors and season highlights with the 2021 Season In Review. Next up is the New York Liberty.
Overview:
After only winning two games in 2020, Head Coach Walt Hopkins went hard in Free Agency to sign players that would elevate his young squad to a playoff contending team. It paid off for the Liberty, as they picked up the 2020 MIP Betnijah Laney, 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Natasha Howard, and sharpshooter Sami Whitcomb. Along with drafting UCLA star Michaela Onyenwere at No.6 and Didi Richards at No. 22.
With these additions to their returning squad, including the 2020 No.1 pick Sabrina Ionescu who only played three games in 2020 due to injury, the Liberty started the season with a bang going 5-1. However, the Liberty struggled offensively as the season went on going on a 6-game losing streak, and were hit with injuries including Howard who missed a good chunk of time. Consequently, New York finished the season with a 12-20 record.
Despite this, the Liberty were given some luck as LA and Washington lost their last games of the season, ending their seasons with a 12-20 record. The Liberty won the tiebreaker with the best head-to-head record among the teams clinching the eighth seed. This was the first time the Liberty have been in the Playoffs since 2017.
In the single-elimination Playoff game, the Liberty put on a show against the No.5 Phoenix Mercury, lighting it up from beyond the arc with 42.9%. Unfortunately, the No.5 Mercury edged the Liberty, 83-82. Despite this loss, the Liberty’s ability to almost knock off a team that would make the Finals showed the Liberty’s promising future, especially with the dynamic duo of Laney and Ionescu returning.
This off-season has already been quite eventful for the Liberty. First, 2019 No.2 pick Asia Durr, who has not played since June 2020 due to COVD-19 complications, announced last month that she has been cleared to play basketball again. Then the Liberty announced they were parting ways with the now-former Head Coach, Walt Hopkins. With this season showing the Liberty’s potential, it will be interesting to see what moves the new head coach, who has not been announced yet, makes this off-season.
Top Contributors:
Bentijah Laney
Betnijah Laney’s journey in the league is nothing less than inspiring. Just one season ago, Laney was cut by the Indiana Fever, then picked up by the Atlanta Dream, where she won Most Improved Player, to now signing a multi-year contract with the New York Liberty. This season, Laney certified herself as an elite scorer in the league, ranking 10th in the league for points (16.8) and 8th in assists (5.3). Laney was awarded her first All-Star nod for her efforts. The 6-0 guard became the fourth WNBA player to finish a season with 16.7+ points, 5.0+ assists, and 4.0+ rebounds per game. On May 14th, against her old team, the Indiana Fever, she put up a season-high 30 points.
NO QUIT in Betnijah Laney
📺NBA TV pic.twitter.com/ymWKrQWizD
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 9, 2021
Sabrina Ionescu
After only playing three games in 2020 due to injury, Ionescu came out with a bang this season. In only her sixth career game, the 5-11 point guard became the youngest player to record a triple-double (26 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds). In addition, her ability to facilitate was on full display this season as she ranked third in the WNBA in assists with 6.1.
Natasha Howard
Despite only playing for 13 games due to injury, the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year did well… precisely what the Liberty had signed her for. Her impact on the team, as she is a threat on both ends of the floor, was visible. Howard averaged a team-high 7.2 rebound per game and ranked second in points for the Liberty with 16.2 (49.4% from the field). On August 15th vs. Lynx, her first game back from injury, she recorded a season-high 30 points.
🌪🌪
Natasha Howard is cookin’ with 10 points so far in the 1st quarter
📺 @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/toXy8FqiWO
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 15, 2021
Season Highlights:
Michaela Onyenwere Named Rookie of the Year
After being drafted No.6 out of UCLA, Michaela Onyenwere had a breakout rookie season. The 6-0 forward averaged 8.6 points and led all WNBA rookies in points per game, field goals made (91), and three-pointers made (37). This is the first time a New York Liberty player has won the award.
The first player in @nyliberty franchise history to earn @Kia Rookie of the Year honors, @monyenwere_ 🙌
Onyenwere had 12 games with 10 or more PTS and 5 games with 5 or more REBS
Her hot play helped NY earn a spot in the #WNBA Playoffs for the first time since 2017 🥳#CountIt pic.twitter.com/WYmYYNe2GP
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 5, 2021
Betnijah Laney Named AT&T All-Star
Betnijah Laney was named a 2021 AT&T All-Star for the first time in her career.
Ionescu’s Game Winner vs. Fever
Dramatically, with a second left vs. Indiana Fever, Sabrina Ionescu made the contested game-winning three-pointer to give the Liberty a 90-87 win in her Barclays Center debut.
🚨 SABRINA CALLS GAME during #WNBATipOff! #CountIt @sabrina_i20 x @nyliberty x @WNBA pic.twitter.com/vWpLplobQR
— NBA (@NBA) May 15, 2021
