It was 207 days ago that in front of over 18,000 fans, the New York Liberty won their first championship in franchise history.
Nothing can beat winning your franchise’s first championship in front of former Liberty stars courtside who built the team’s foundation. Nothing can beat doing it on your home floor. And nothing beats doing it in a Game 5 against the Minnesota Lynx, which capped off arguably one of the best Finals in league history.
The seven-month was a victory party of its own. Coming off being named Finals MVP, Jonquel Jones celebrated her first championship in her home country of the Bahamas. Sabrina Ionescu celebrated around the world, embarking on her first signature athlete tour throughout Asia. Breanna Stewart celebrated, founded and became a focal star of Unrivaled, the 3v3 women’s basketball offseason league.
While the offseason was a time of celebration, it is evident the team is focused, centered and back to building their goal of repeating as WNBA champs, amid a now 13-team league (welcome Golden State)!
Defending a title takes even more work the second time around. As champions, the Liberty undoubtedly are a target. Teams across the league are building up their rosters to compete at the top with New York and become contenders. This past offseason, general manager Jonathan Kolb was tasked with yet again building out a championship caliber roster. Here’s how it all came together:
Training Camp
Media members and the Liberty social team fed us with training camp content over the past few weeks. The vibes are high and it is clear that New York invests in its team, its players and the fanbase.
Clara Wu Tsai, co-owner of the team, brought Ionescu, Stewart and Jones to the Met Gala, allowing the players to showcase their own distinct styles.
The Liberty also continue to raise the bar with state-of-the-art facilities. The team announced plans to build a 75,000 sq. ft and $80 million practice facility in Brooklyn, opening in 2027. Time and time again, New York has proven that good things happen when owners invest in a team.
Training camp has also served as a great opportunity for the new additions to be incorporated into the offense. The preseason games allowed those fighting for a roster spot to show what they can do with extended minutes.
Unfortunately, as with every season, the team had to make some difficult decisions ahead of the regular season. The team waived 2024 draft pick Esmery Martínez and 2020 draft pick Leaonna Odom. Both of them made their mark in preseason but were a casualty of cap and roster space. Yet, I have no doubt they will find themselves on a roster as the league expands.
Returning Faces
New York’s big three of Stewart, Jones and Ionescu return to the Big Apple and will play together again for the third year.
Jones averaged 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds in last year’s Finals in route to MVP. Ionescu is also coming off her strongest pro season, where she was named to the All-WNBA Second Team.
After playing in Unrivaled, Stewart underwent a small arthroscopic procedure on her knee during the offseason. Stewie was limited in the preseason for rest but is healthy and good to go for the regular season. Stewart had what some would call a ‘down’ year from deep, shooting just 30 percent on 4.1 attempts from three. The procedure will hopefully give her some extra height and motion on jumpers.
After a sensational rookie year, which saw her go from a sixth player off the bench to a key starter that broke multiple rookie records, Leonie Fiebich returns. Fiebich can do it all on the floor, especially with her long 6’4 frame. She can drive to the basket, shoot it from deep and guard multiple positions.
Both Nyara Sabally and Kennedy Burke return as key members of the team’s second unit. Sabally was the x-factor and hero of Game 5 against Minnesota. She exploded for 13 points in a playoff-high 17 minutes and spurred a Liberty rally. Sabally spent her offseason playing in Germany and will play another huge role this season.
While Burke had limited minutes last season, she signed a one-year vet minimum in the offseason to return to New York and continue to provide that strong under the basket presence. The one thing we’ll miss dearly is Burke’s friendship with Thornton on all of our social feeds.
Jaylyn Sherrod and Marquesha Davis both won rings in their rookie year and shined throughout the season. It’s evident they put in the work this offseason to compete for playing time in their sophomore seasons.
Key Departures (and injuries)
A huge loss for New York is Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. She will miss the year due to a lingering knee injury she sustained during Unrivaled. Laney-Hamilton is a beloved fan favorite and one of the most tenured players on the team. It’s an unfortunate development that followed last year’s playoffs, where it was clear that she wasn’t playing at 100 percent.
Kolb said the team suspended her contract for the season, which guarantees she won’t take the court. The Liberty will rely on their newcomers to fill the defensive and energetic hole Laney-Hamilton brings to the court.
During the offseason, Courtney Vandersloot signed with the Chicago Sky. Sloot returns to the Windy City after spending the first 12 years of her career there. Due to the rise of Fiebich, Vandersloot was delegated to the bench for the playoffs. Sloot used her veteran presence to lead the second unit and had big moments in the semifinals and Finals. New York will miss Vandersloot’s experience and energy, but I’m happy she’s returning to the city where it all started to mentor new up-and-coming stars.
Kayla Thornton was lost to the Golden State Valkyries during the expansion draft, a move many anticipated but also feared. After primarily coming off the bench during her two seasons here, Thornton will have a chance to shine as a starter in Golden State. For as happy as we are for Thornton, the Liberty and their fans will miss her hustle and good vibes.
Key Additions (and Returns)
There were rumblings of acquiring Natasha Cloud earlier in the winter, but fans weren’t sure. And with the Connecticut Sun adamant that they can still compete, a trade seemed highly unlikely. But Kolb had plans up his sleeve and New York traded their 2025 and 2026 first round picks for Cloud. Given the Liberty’s ability to scout international talent and draft and stash them, this isn’t a huge loss for them. Cloud has years of experience and is one of the most fun players to cover and be around. Her presence will help give the Liberty a jolt of energy.
Cloud is a nine-year veteran who can fill the Vandersloot hole as a facilitator on offense. Last season, she averaged 6.9 assists per game, good for third in the league.
Johannes is returning after a year away spent competing in the Olympics for France and with Çukurova Basketbol in Turkey. In her first two season in New York, Johannes became a fan and league favorite for her highlight reel plays. Whether it’s nailing a three off one foot or assisting on a no look pass from the opposite side of the court, it is clear that Johannes has a high basketball IQ. With more eyes on the WNBA, new fans will adore MJ as she’s ridiculously fun to watch and incredibly entertaining. I’m intrigued on how coach Sandy Brondello will figure Johannes into the second unit after a year away. However she’s used, it’ll be exciting to see MJ rocking the seafoam again and lighting it up at Barclays.
Rebekah Gardner had to watch the Liberty win the championship from the sideline last year after rehabbing an Achilles injury. Kolb knew what he was doing when signed Gardner as she brings international experience to New York’s bench. Gardner is long, a strong driver to the rim, and will bring a wealth of knowledge to the second unit.
Izzy Harrison was also acquired from the Chicago Sky. In her seven seasons in the league, Harrison has posted a career average 8.2 points per game.
Looking to Repeat
Repeating in any sport is hard. In the WNBA’s history, only the Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks, and Las Vegas Aces have won consecutive championships.
Once you win, teams build to beat you.
The Liberty’s road to the title will have contenders even more motivated to beat them. Their game five win against the Lynx was a back-and-forth battle that came down to the Finals. They dethroned the Aces in their own arena and dashed their three peat dreams. Those wins allowed the Liberty to set the standard as the team to beat in the league.
New York has a very real chance of once again becoming champs. While they lost many key pieces to their 2024 title run, I believe they became even stronger in the offseason. The addition of Cloud and returns of players like Johannes and Sabally creates even more flexibility for NY . The second unit has a combined 21 years of WNBA experience, and unlike many other teams, the Liberty won’t have a rookie on their roster. While there will undoubtedly be many learning moments, all of these players have been here before.
Yet with so many talented players coming off the bench, figuring out rotations early on in the season will be key to knowing the right personnel in big moments.
Everyone comes into 2025 needing to make adjustments with an expanded 44 games season. Also, over 100 players will become free agents in 2026 as a new collective bargaining agreement will be in place. But if the Liberty stay healthy, we could definitely see them yet again in a Finals matchup. Could it be a 2024 rematch against the Lynx? Might it be a 2023 rematch against the Aces? Or could it possibly be a showdown against the surging Indiana Fever? Only time will tell.
But as always, let’s celebrate the defending champs on May 17 when they open up their regular season title defense against the Aces and just enjoy the ride!