2021 New York Liberty season

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]

2021 New York Liberty season
CoachWalt Hopkins
ArenaBarclays Center
Attendance1,874 per game
Results
Record12–20 (.375)
Place3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finish8th seed, Lost in the First Round to Phoenix Mercury
Team Leaders
PointsBetnijah Laney – 16.8 ppg
ReboundsNatasha Howard – 7.2 rpg
AssistsSabrina Ionescu – 6.1 apg
Media
TelevisionYES

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
See also: 2021 WNBA draft
Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 6 Michaela Onyenwere  United States UCLA
2 17 DiDi Richards  United States Baylor
3 25 Valerie Higgins  United States Pacific
3 29 Marine Fauthoux  France 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 Janelle Bailey 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 Janelle Bailey[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 Jasmine Bailey[18]
Full Season Suspend G Marine Johannès 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[26]
Activate C Kiah Stokes from Temporary Suspension
June 30, 2021 Waived C Kiah Stokes[27]
July 1, 2021 Signed F Reshanda Gray[28]

Roster
2021 New York Liberty roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G/F 9 Australia Allen, Rebecca 6' 2" (1.88m) 162 lb (73kg) 1992-11-06 Australia 5
F 1 United States Gray, Reshanda 6' 2" (1.88m) 192 lb (87kg) 1993-06-01 California 4
F 6 United States Howard, Natasha 6' 2" (1.88m) 165 lb (75kg) 1991-09-02 Florida State 7
G 20 United States Ionescu, Sabrina 5' 11" (1.8m) 165 lb (75kg) 1997-12-06 Oregon 1
G 4 United States Jones, Jazmine 6' 0" (1.83m) 160 lb (73kg) 1996-10-15 Louisville 1
G/F 44 United States Laney, Betnijah 6' 0" (1.83m) 166 lb (75kg) 1993-10-29 Rutgers 5
F 0 United States Odom, Leaonna 6' 2" (1.88m) 168 lb (76kg) 1998-03-26 Duke 1
F 12 United States Onyenwere, Michaela 6' 0" (1.83m) 178 lb (81kg) 1999-08-10 UCLA R
G/F 2 United States Richards, DiDi 6' 2" (1.88m) 164 lb (74kg) 1999-02-08 Baylor R
C 24 United States Shook, Kylee 6' 5" (1.96m) 200 lb (91kg) 1998-03-18 Louisville 1
G 32 Australia Whitcomb, Sami 5' 10" (1.78m) 145 lb (66kg) 1988-07-20 Washington 4
G/F 13 United States Willoughby, Jocelyn Injured 6' 0" (1.83m) 180 lb (82kg) 1998-03-25 Virginia R
Head coach
United States Walt Hopkins (Nevada)
Assistant coaches
United States Shelley Patterson (Washington State)
United States Dustin Gray (Arizona State)
United States Jacki Gemelos (USC)



Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Game log

Preseason
2021 pre-season game log
May: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 May 3 @ Connecticut Scrimmage Mohegan Sun Arena
0		 0–0
2 May 11 Dallas Scrimmage Barclays Center 0–0
2021 pre-season schedule

Regular season
2021 game log
Total: 12–20 (Home: 7–9; Road: 5–11)
May: 5–2 (Home: 3–1; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 May 14 Indiana W 90–87 Betnijah Laney (30) Sabrina Ionescu (6) Sabrina Ionescu (11) Barclays Center
1,139		 1–0
2 May 16 @ Indiana W 73-65 Betnijah Laney (20) Kylee Shook (7) Laney
Whitcomb
Ionescu (4)		 Bankers Life Fieldhouse
No Fans		 2–0
3 May 18 Minnesota W 86–75 Sabrina Ionescu (26) Sabrina Ionescu (10) Sabrina Ionescu (12) Barclays Center
815		 3–0
4 May 21 @ Washington L 72–101 Betnijah Laney (20) Sami Whitcomb (7) Ionescu
Laney (5)		 Entertainment and Sports Arena
No Fans		 3–1
5 May 23 @ Chicago W 93–85 Betnijah Laney (20) Natasha Howard (7) Sabrina Ionescu (12) Wintrust Arena
1,332		 4–1
6 May 24 Dallas W 88–81 Betnijah Laney (26) Sabrina Ionescu (9) DiDi Richards (5) Barclays Center
894		 5–1
7 May 29 Atlanta L 87–90 Michaela Onyenwere (29) Laney
Stokes (6)		 Betnijah Laney (11) Barclays Center
1,235		 5–2
June : 3–7 (Home: 0–3; Road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
8 June 3 Las Vegas L 82–94 Betnijah Laney (23) Kiah Stokes (13) Sabrina Ionescu (9) Barclays Center
1,389		 5–3
9 June 5 @ Connecticut L 64–85 Rebecca Allen (14) Sami Whitcomb (5) Betnijah Laney (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
2,118		 5–4
10 June 13 @ Phoenix W 85–83 Betnijah Laney (23) Jones
Laney (7)		 Betnijah Laney (10) Phoenix Suns Arena
4,476		 6–4
11 June 15 @ Las Vegas L 78–100 Jazmine Jones (17) Kylee Shook (9) Betnijah Laney (6) Michelob Ultra Arena
2,115		 6–5
12 June 17 @ Las Vegas L 76–103 Betnijah Laney (20) Sami Whitcomb (6) Sami Whitcomb (5) Michelob Ultra Arena
No Fans		 6–6
13 June 20 @ Los Angeles W 76–73 Rebecca Allen (19) Sami Whitcomb (9) Betnijah Laney (5) Los Angeles Convention Center
731		 7–6
14 June 22 Chicago L 72–92 Betnijah Laney (18) Sabrina Ionescu (8) Sabrina Ionescu (7) Barclays Center
1,419		 7–7
15 June 24 Chicago L 68–91 Michaela Onyenwere (16) Kylee Shook (11) Sabrina Ionescu (5) Barclays Center
2,148		 7–8
16 June 26 @ Atlanta W 101–78 Sami Whitcomb (30) Kylee Shook (11) Sabrina Ionescu (8) Gateway Center Arena
1,605		 8–8
17 June 29 @ Atlanta L 69–73 Betnijah Laney (16) Kylee Shook (8) Betnijah Laney (7) Gateway Center Arena
1,131		 8–9
July : 2–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
18 July 3 Washington W 82–79 Betnijah Laney (19) Sami Whitcomb (9) Sabrina Ionescu (5) Barclays Center
1,615		 9–9
19 July 5 Dallas W 99–96 Sami Whitcomb (26) Kylee Shook (8) Sabrina Ionescu (12) Barclays Center
1,677		 10–9
20 July 9 @ Indiana L 69–82 Betnijah Laney (23) Betnijah Laney (8) Ionescu
Laney
Shook (4)		 Indiana Farmers Coliseum
No Fans		 10–10
21 July 11 Connecticut L 54–71 Kylee Shook (16) Ionescu
Whitcomb (7)		 Ionescu
Richards
Whitcomb (3)		 Barclays Center
 10–11
August : 1–6 (Home: 1–4; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
22 August 15 @ Minnesota L 78–88 Natasha Howard (30) Sabrina Ionescu (7) Sabrina Ionescu (6) Target Center
3,534		 10–12
23 August 18 Seattle W 83–79 Allen
Laney (17)		 Ionescu
Laney (7)		 Betnijah Laney (8) Barclays Center
2,103		 11–12
24 August 20 Seattle L 83–99 Sami Whitcomb (26) Natasha Howard (13) Sami Whitcomb (8) Barclays Center
3,889		 11–13
25 August 22 Los Angeles L 83–86 Howard
Whitcomb (17)		 Natasha Howard (11) Betnijah Laney (9) Barclays Center
N/A		 11–14
26 August 25 Phoenix L 79–106 Betnijah Laney (20) Allen
Laney (8)		 Sabrina Ionescu (7) Barclays Center
1,872		 11–15
27 August 27 Phoenix L 64–80 Natasha Howard (18) Sabrina Ionescu (10) Sabrina Ionescu (9) Barclays Center
2,315		 11–16
28 August 31 @ Minnesota L 66–74 Ionescu
Laney (17)		 Michaela Onyenwere (10) Sabrina Ionescu (6) Target Center
3,221		 11–17
September : 1–3 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
29 September 2 @ Seattle L 75–85 Sabrina Ionescu (20) Betnijah Laney (7) Sabrina Ionescu (7) Angel of the Winds Arena
3,592		 11–18
30 September 11 @ Dallas L 76–77 Betnijah Laney (19) Natasha Howard (11) Ionescu
Laney (6)		 College Park Center
2,888		 11–19
31 September 15 @ Connecticut L 69–98 Natasha Howard (25) Natasha Howard (8) Sabrina Ionescu (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,012		 11–20
32 September 17 Washington W 91–80 Natasha Howard (24) Natasha Howard (10) Betnijah Laney (11) Barclays Center
3,615		 12–20
2021 season schedule

Playoffs
2021 playoff game log
Total: 0–1
First round
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 September 23 @ Phoenix 82–83 Betnijah Laney (25) Natasha Howard (10) Sabrina Ionescu (11) Grand Canyon University Arena
5,827		 0–1
2021 playoff schedule

Standings
# Team W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 x – Connecticut Sun266.813–12–315–111–59–1
2 x – Las Vegas Aces248.750211–413–311–56–4
3 x – Minnesota Lynx2210.688410–513–39–77–3
4 x – Seattle Storm2111.65659–611–510–68–2
5 x – Phoenix Mercury1913.59476–97–912–45–5
6 x – Chicago Sky1616.5001010–56–1010–66–4
7 x – Dallas Wings1418.438127–87–97–93–7
8 x – New York Liberty1220.375146–97–95–115–5
9 e – Washington Mystics1220.375147–88–84–124–6
10 e – Los Angeles Sparks1220.375142–138–84–121–9
11 e – Atlanta Dream824.250186–94–124–124–6
12 e – Indiana Fever626.188204–114–122–142–8

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

Playoffs
First round
Sept. 23		Second round
Sept. 26		Semifinals
Sept. 28 – Oct. 8		WNBA Finals
Oct. 10 – Oct. 17
2Las Vegas Aces9691609384
4Seattle Storm805Phoenix Mercury90117877687
5Phoenix Mercury835Phoenix Mercury85OT5Phoenix Mercury7791OT5074–
8New York Liberty826Chicago Sky91868680–
1Connecticut Sun95798369–
3Minnesota Lynx766Chicago Sky1012OT688679–
6Chicago Sky816Chicago Sky89
7Dallas Wings64

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Awards and honors
Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
Sabrina Ionescu Eastern Conference Player of the Week May 24 [29]
Betnijah Laney June 1 [30]
Michaela Onyenwere WNBA Rookie of the Month - May June 2 [31]
Walt Hopkins WNBA Coach of the Month - May June 2 [32]
Michaela Onyenwere WNBA Rookie of the Month - June July 1 [33]
Betnijah Laney WNBA All-Star Selection June 30 [34]
Michaela Onyenwere WNBA Rookie of the Month - August September 2 [35]
Natasha Howard Eastern Conference Player of the Week September 20 [36]
Michaela Onyenwere WNBA Rookie of the Month - September September 22 [37]
WNBA Rookie of the Year October 5 [38]
DiDi Richards WNBA All-Rookie Team October 5 [39]
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:[40]

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
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