2021 New York Liberty season
2021 New York Liberty season | |
---|---|
Coach | Walt Hopkins |
Arena | Barclays Center |
Attendance | 1,874 per game |
Results | |
Record | 12–20 (.375) |
Place | 3rd (Eastern) |
Playoff finish | 8th seed, Lost in the First Round to Phoenix Mercury |
Team Leaders | |
Points | Betnijah Laney – 16.8 ppg |
Rebounds | Natasha Howard – 7.2 rpg |
Assists | Sabrina Ionescu – 6.1 apg |
Media | |
Television | YES |
The 2021 New York Liberty season was the 25th season for the New York Liberty franchise of the WNBA. The Liberty opened the regular season on May 14, 2021 versus the Indiana Fever.[1]
The Liberty started the season strong by winning their first three games and only losing two of their seven games in May. However, June turned into a much worse month for the team as wins were book-ended by two losses. The team finished 3–7 in June. Things looked to be turning around in July as the Liberty won their first two games, but they lost their last two games of the month to take a 10–11 overall record into the Olympic break. The post-Olympic break stretch of the season proved difficult for the Liberty. They won their second game out of the break after losing their first, but then went on an eight game losing streak that stretched into September. Going into the last game of the season, the Liberty were part of a three way tie for the eighth, and final playoff seed. The Liberty defeated Washington and Los Angeles lost their final game, so the Liberty won the tiebreaker and qualified for the playoffs as the eighth seed with a final record of 12–20.
As the eighth seed, the Liberty played the fifth seeded Phoenix Mercury in Phoenix in the First Round. The game was more competitive than many expected and it came down to the wire. However, the Liberty were edged out 82–83 and their season came to an end.
Transactions[]
WNBA Draft[]
Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | School/Team/Country |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 | Michaela Onyenwere | ![]() |
UCLA |
2 | 17 | DiDi Richards | ![]() |
Baylor |
3 | 25 | Valerie Higgins | ![]() |
Pacific |
3 | 29 | Marine Fauthoux | ![]() |
ASVEL Féminin (France) |
Trades/Roster Changes[]
Date | Details | |
---|---|---|
September 13, 2020 | Signed C Kiah Stokes to a Contract Extension[2] | |
January 2, 2021 | Extended Qualifying Offers to F Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, G Paris Kea, and F Joyner Holmes[3] | |
January 3, 2021 | Exercised Team Options on G Asia Durr and C Han Xu[4] | |
February 2, 2021 | Signed G/F Betnijah Laney[5] | |
Signed F Joyner Holmes to a Training Camp Contract[6] | ||
February 10, 2021 | Traded G Kia Nurse and F Megan Walker to Phoenix in exchange for the 6th Overall Pick in the 2021 Draft and the Mercury's 1st Round Pick in 2022.[7] | |
Traded the 1st Overall Pick in the 2021 Draft, a 2nd Round Pick in 2022 (via trade with Phoenix), and New York's own 2022 2nd Round Pick to Seattle in exchange for F Natasha Howard[7] | ||
Traded the rights to F Stephanie Talbot to Seattle in exchange for G Sami Whitcomb[7] | ||
April 14, 2021 | Signed F Asia Taylor to a Training Camp Contract[8] | |
April 16, 2021 | Full Season Suspend C Han Xu due to Overseas Commitments[9] | |
April 19, 2021 | Signed F Michaela Onyenwere, G Valerie Higgins, and G DiDi Richards to Rookie Scale Contracts[10] | |
April 24, 2021 | Signed F to a Rookie Scale Contract[11] | |
April 26, 2021 | Hired Jacki Gemelos as an Assistant Coach[12] | |
Signed G Rebecca Allen[13] | ||
May 7, 2021 | Waived F [14] | |
May 11, 2021 | Waived G Valerie Higgins[15] | |
May 12, 2021 | Temporarily Suspend G Rebecca Allen, F Natasha Howard, and C Kiah Stokes due to Overseas Commitments[16] | |
Full Season Suspend G Asia Durr | ||
Waive F Joyner Holmes[17] | ||
May 13, 2021 | Waive F Asia Taylor and G [18] | |
Full Season Suspend G Marine Johannes due to Overseas Commitments | ||
May 14, 2021 | Signed F Reshanda Gray to a Hardship Contract[19] | |
Signed F Joyner Holmes to a Hardship Contract[20] | ||
May 15, 2021 | Activate G Rebecca Allen from Temporary Suspension List | |
Released F Joyner Holmes from the Hardship Contract[21] | ||
May 18, 2021 | Activate C Kiah Stokes from Temporary Suspension List | |
Released F Reshanda Gray from the Hardship Contract[22] | ||
May 20, 2021 | Waived G Layshia Clarendon[23] | |
May 22, 2021 | Activate F Natasha Howard from Temporary Suspension List[24] | |
June 6, 2021 | Suspend C Kiah Stokes due to Overseas Commitments[25] | |
June 7, 2021 | Signed F Reshanda Gray to a Hardship Contract[26] | |
June 22, 2021 | Release F Reshanda Gray to a Hardship Contract[27] | |
Activate C Kiah Stokes from Temporary Suspension | ||
June 30, 2021 | Waived C Kiah Stokes[28] | |
July 1, 2021 | Signed F Reshanda Gray[29] |
Current roster[]
2021 New York Liberty roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Game log[]
Preseason[]
2021 pre-season game log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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May: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
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2021 pre-season schedule |
Regular season[]
Playoffs[]
2021 playoff game log Total: 0–1 | ||||||||||||||||||
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First Round
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2021 playoff schedule |
Standings[]
# | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Conf. | Home | Road | Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | x – Connecticut Sun | 26 | 6 | .813 | – | 12–3 | 15–1 | 11–5 | 9–1 |
2 | x – Las Vegas Aces | 24 | 8 | .750 | 2 | 11–4 | 13–3 | 11–5 | 6–4 |
3 | x – Minnesota Lynx | 22 | 10 | .688 | 4 | 10–5 | 13–3 | 9–7 | 7–3 |
4 | x – Seattle Storm | 21 | 11 | .656 | 5 | 9–6 | 11–5 | 10–6 | 8–2 |
5 | x – Phoenix Mercury | 19 | 13 | .594 | 7 | 6–9 | 7–9 | 12–4 | 5–5 |
6 | x – Chicago Sky | 16 | 16 | .500 | 10 | 10–5 | 6–10 | 10–6 | 6–4 |
7 | x – Dallas Wings | 14 | 18 | .438 | 12 | 7–8 | 7–9 | 7–9 | 3–7 |
8 | x – New York Liberty | 12 | 20 | .375 | 14 | 6–9 | 7–9 | 5–11 | 5–5 |
9 | e – Washington Mystics | 12 | 20 | .375 | 14 | 7–8 | 8–8 | 4–12 | 4–6 |
10 | e – Los Angeles Sparks | 12 | 20 | .375 | 14 | 2–13 | 8–8 | 4–12 | 1–9 |
11 | e – Atlanta Dream | 8 | 24 | .250 | 18 | 6–9 | 4–12 | 4–12 | 4–6 |
12 | e – Indiana Fever | 6 | 26 | .188 | 20 | 4–11 | 4–12 | 2–14 | 2–8 |
Notes
- (#) – League Standing
- x – Clinched playoff berth
- e – Eliminated from playoff contention
- Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings
Playoffs[]
First round: Single elimination (Sept. 23) | Second round: Single elimination (Sept. 26) | Semifinals: Best-of-five (Sept. 28 – Oct. 8) | WNBA Finals: Best-of-five (Oct. 10 – Oct. 17) | |||||||||||
2 Las Vegas Aces | 2 | |||||||||||||
5 Phoenix Mercury | 3 | |||||||||||||
4 Seattle Storm | 80 | |||||||||||||
5 Phoenix Mercury | 85OT | |||||||||||||
5 Phoenix Mercury | 83 | |||||||||||||
8 New York Liberty | 82 | |||||||||||||
5 Phoenix Mercury | 1 | |||||||||||||
6 Chicago Sky | 3 | |||||||||||||
6 Chicago Sky | 81 | |||||||||||||
7 Dallas Wings | 64 | |||||||||||||
3 Minnesota Lynx | 76 | |||||||||||||
6 Chicago Sky | 89 | |||||||||||||
1 Connecticut Sun | 1 | |||||||||||||
6 Chicago Sky | 3 | |||||||||||||
Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.
- Semifinals
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 Connecticut Sun |
95 | 79 | 83 | 69 |
6 Chicago Sky |
101 2OT | 68 | 86 | 79 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 Las Vegas Aces |
96 | 91 | 60 | 93 | 84 |
5 Phoenix Mercury |
90 | 117 | 87 | 76 | 87 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 Phoenix Mercury |
77 | 91 OT | 50 | 74 |
6 Chicago Sky |
91 | 86 | 86 | 80 |
Awards and honors[]
Recipient | Award | Date awarded | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Sabrina Ionescu | Eastern Conference Player of the Week | May 24 | [30] |
Betnijah Laney | June 1 | [31] | |
Michaela Onyenwere | WNBA Rookie of the Month - May | June 2 | [32] |
Walt Hopkins | WNBA Coach of the Month - May | June 2 | [33] |
Michaela Onyenwere | WNBA Rookie of the Month - June | July 1 | [34] |
Betnijah Laney | WNBA All-Star Selection | June 30 | [35] |
Michaela Onyenwere | WNBA Rookie of the Month - August | September 2 | [36] |
Natasha Howard | Eastern Conference Player of the Week | September 20 | [37] |
Michaela Onyenwere | WNBA Rookie of the Month - September | September 22 | [38] |
WNBA Rookie of the Year | October 5 | [39] | |
DiDi Richards | WNBA All-Rookie Team | October 5 | [40] |
Michaela Onyenwere |
Statistics[]
Legend | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | RPG | Rebounds per game |
APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage | TO | Turnovers per game |
PF | Fouls per game | Team leader | League leader |
Source:[41]
Regular season[]
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Betnijah Laney | 32 | 32 | 33.7 | 45.1 | 31.2 | 78.7 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 16.8 |
Natasha Howard | 13 | 13 | 27.5 | 49.4 | 33.3 | 77.4 | 7.2 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 16.2 |
Sami Whitcomb | 30 | 28 | 28.1 | 47.3 | 42.5 | 81.8 | 5.0 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 11.7 |
Sabrina Ionescu | 30 | 26 | 30.0 | 37.9 | 32.5 | 91.1 | 5.7 | 6.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 11.7 |
Rebecca Allen | 25 | 13 | 24.2 | 34.3 | 38.1 | 89.2 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 9.2 |
Michaela Onyenwere | 32 | 29 | 22.5 | 39.9 | 32.7 | 83.6 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 8.6 |
Reshanda Gray | 15 | 0 | 14.1 | 53.1 | 22.2 | 69.2 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 5.9 |
Jazmine Jones | 27 | 0 | 16.6 | 35.6 | 38.3 | 76.1 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 5.9 |
Kylee Shook | 30 | 19 | 18.9 | 46.7 | 39.3 | 80.0 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 5.7 |
Leaonna Odom | 18 | 0 | 11.5 | 46.7 | 29.4 | 75.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 3.1 |
DiDi Richards | 31 | 0 | 11.2 | 42.2 | 45.5 | 60.0 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 2.3 |
Jocelyn Willoughby | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
References[]
- ^ "2021 New York Liberty Schedule". Women's National Basketball Association. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "Liberty Sign Stokes To Contract Extension". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. September 13, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "WNBA Transactions". wnba.com. WNBA. January 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "WNBA Transactions". wnba.com. WNBA. January 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "New York Liberty Signs WNBA's 2020 Most Improved Player Betnijah Laney". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. February 2, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "Rachel Galligan Tweet". twitter.com. Twitter. February 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ a b c "New York Liberty Acquire Natasha Howard And Sami Whitcomb". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. February 10, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "ASIA TAYLOR has signed in the WNBA with the New York Liberty". regeneracomsports.com. Regeneracomsports. April 15, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "WNBA Transactions". wnba.com. WNBA. April 16, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "WNBA Transactions". wnba.com. WNBA. April 19, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "WNBA Transactions". wnba.com. WNBA. April 24, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "Liberty Add Jacki Gemelos to 2021 Coaching Staff". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "WNBA Transactions". wnba.com. WNBA. April 26, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "New York Liberty Waive Janelle Bailey". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. May 7, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "New York Liberty Waive Valerie Higgins". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. May 11, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "WNBA Transactions". wnba.com. WNBA. May 12, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "New York Liberty Waive Joyner Holmes". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. May 12, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "New York Liberty Waive Asia Taylor and Jasmine Bailey". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. May 13, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "New York Liberty Sign Reshanda Gray". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. May 14, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "New York Liberty Sign Joyner Holmes". oursportscentral.com. Our Sports Central. May 15, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "Transactions - Player Movement". acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. May 15, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "Transactions - Player Movement". acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. May 18, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "Liberty waive nine-year WNBA veteran Layshia Clarendon". ESPN.com. ESPN. May 20, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
- ^ "Transactions - Player Movement". acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. May 22, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "Transactions - Player Movement". acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ "Transactions - Player Movement". acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ "Transactions - Player Movement". acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ "New York Liberty Waive Kiah Stokes". liberty.wnba.com. wnba.com. June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
- ^ "New York Liberty Re-Sign Reshanda Gray". liberty.wnba.com. wnba.com. July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
- ^ "Season 25 – Week 1: Players Of The Week". wnba.com. WNBA. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ^ "Betnijah Laney And Brittney Griner Named Week 2 Players of the Week". wnba.com. WNBA. June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ "Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month – May: Michaela Onyenwere". wnba.com. WNBA. June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "WNBA Coach of the Month for May: Walt Hopkins, New York Liberty". wnba.com. WNBA. June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "Michaela Onyenwere Wins June Rookie Of The Month". wnba.com. WNBA. July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "Rosters Set for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2021 on July 14". wnba.com. WNBA. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month (August): Michaela Onyenwere". wnba.com. WNBA. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "WNBA Players of the Week: Natasha Howard and Kelsey Plum". wnba.com. WNBA. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ "September Rookie of the Month: Michaela Onyenwere". wnba.com. WNBA. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ "New York Liberty's Michaela Onyenwere Named 2021 Kia WNBA Rookie Of The Year". wnba.com. WNBA. October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- ^ "Sky Guard Dana Evans Named to 2021 WNBA All-Rookie Team". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
- ^ "Stats - New York Liberty". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
External links[]
- New York Liberty seasons
- 2021 WNBA season
- 2021 in sports in New York (state)
- 2021 in sports in New York City