The WNBA off-season has been moving a mile a minute. With so many decisions to be made in a short window, teams have to figure things out quickly. The New York Liberty are looking to return to the WNBA Finals, and they hope their recent moves get them there.
It started with the signing of Satou Sabally. Sabally has been one of the best forwards in basketball in recent years and has expanded her offensive arsenal. Satou’s is a more proficient three point shooter than earlier in her career and is someone who can score on all three levels of the court.
Having Sabally allows for a lot of new exciting opportunities for the Liberty. As Michael Waterloo wrote for Winsidr in 2025:
For the Liberty, it would put the opposing defense in the position to try to stop five players who are able to operate inside out, as Sabally, Jones and Stewart are all bigs who can stretch the floor. It also allows them to easily switch defensively.
For new head coach Chris DeMarco, he will have a lot of exciting buttons to press in the starting lineup. As far as the bench goes, it’s a work in progress.
What will the Liberty bench look like?
With the addition of Sabally, the team has to let go of familiar bench players. One of them is Kennedy Burke, who signed a contract with the Connecticut Sun. New York is also losing reserve big Isabelle Harrison, who signed with the Toronto Tempo. Both players gave good minutes in 2025 and will be missed in 2026.
To make up for the Liberty, New York went overseas. It starts with Raquel Carrera. Carrera has excelled in Europe and earned plenty of accolades in her young career.
New York is also bringing in Anneli Maley on a training camp contract. Maley has excelled in the NBL and she can help address some of the issues that plagued the Liberty in 2025. As noted in Basketball Australia:
“The impact Maley has on a game is undeniable. Whether she’s bringing down defensive rebounds and creating a one-woman fastbreak or securing extra possessions for her team by grabbing offensive rebounds, she brings an incredible presence to the game and energises her team to new heights.“
As the Liberty rebuild their team, having a star like Sabally goes a long way. Their ceiling is higher and they can try exciting new combinations with her on board. The 2024 WNBA champions have more work to do, but they’re off to a great start so far.