New York Liberty

New York Liberty open 2020 season with a Floridan fight against Seattle (Highlights)

by

Layshia Clarendon and Sabrina Ionescu each earned double-figures in the New York Liberty’s 2020 debut against the mighty Seattle Storm.

If moral victories counted in the WNBA standings, the New York Liberty would lead with a 1-0 mark. Alas, for New York, only points on the scoreboard count toward the official wins and losses.

A dominant fourth quarter allowed the Seattle Storm to pull away from Liberty in the final stages, using a 21-14 tally over the last 10 minutes to win the WNBA’s 2020 opener by an 87-71 final. Seattle (1-0) welcomed back former MVPs Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird back to the fold after the pair missed all of last season due to injuries.

New York representatives were proud of the effort on the hardwood of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, which will host the entirety of the 2020 season in a bubble setting.

“I think we saw (the feeling) of fearless very often,” forward Amanda Zahui B said in a postgame Zoom conference. “They took the lead and we came back. Now we just got to keep on being consistent with it and not get on our heels. It’s a growing process. I think we did it well as a first game. It’s not perfect, but we were going against Seattle and we’re pretty much new to the league as a whole. I think we did pretty well.”

The Liberty (0-1) debuted six rookies and dressed only two players from their 2019 season finale overall. The league’s schedule generator perhaps did them no favors by setting them up against the 2018 champions, who nonetheless earned a playoff berth last season in the absence of Bird and Stewart. Further complications arose when the Liberty lost All-Star guard Kia Nurse to an injury in the second quarter, an ailment later described as an ankle sprain. Seattle seemed ready to pull away to an expected blowout when they took a 24-12 lead late in the first quarter.

But a strong effort led by a rare veteran kept the Liberty alive. A dominant sequence from Layshia Clarendon in the opening frame’s final minute, in which she dumped off an interior assist to Kiah Stokes before going to the line to trim the lead to single digits. Further efforts from Clarendon even helped the Liberty swipe the lead back in the second quarter before Seattle’s starters helped restore relative sanity.

Clarendon, the Liberty’s oldest player at 28, led all scorers with 20 points. She addressed the broadcast prior to tip-off to reiterate the WNBA’s dedication of the 2020 season to victims of racial violence and injustice, listing several African-American women killed through police brutality. Clarendon is a member of the WNBA’s Social Justice Council alongside newly minted Liberty CEO Keia Clark. Players from each side wore the name of one such victim, Breonna Taylor, on the back of their uniforms. A 26-second moment of observation was also held in recognition of Taylor’s age at the time of her death.

Outside shooting proved to be the Liberty’s downfall, as the team shot 6-of-28 deep (one conversion was Stokes’ first career three-pointer). That included an 0-for-8 posting from Ionescu, who tallied 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in her highly-anticipated WNBA debut.

“In my first game, 12, 6, and 4 is something I’m going to live with and I’m not going to get too down on myself because we play in a couple of days and I have to continue to grow,” Ionescu said. “I think we can definitely refine things in every category…I need to take care of the ball better. But I think we did something really well. We gave them a game, especially through the first three quarters…I think that’s hat’s off to us. We came out strong, we didn’t hold off who they are. I think there’s a lot of positivity in that.”

Stewart led the Storm with 18 points while Bird reached 11 points primarily through a trio of triples. Clarendon’s fellow veteran Zahui B also reached double-figures for the Liberty with 10 points, while Kiah Stokes had 10 rebounds in her first Liberty game since September 2018.

New York and Seattle will meet again in the bubble on August 18.

The Liberty return to action Wednesday night, as they’ll take on the Dallas Wings (8 p.m. ET, CBSSN/Fox Sports Go).

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Liberty name Keia Clarke new CEO

by

Clarke has been with the New York Liberty for over a decade in several roles, most recently as Chief Operating Officer.

The New York Liberty made a move in the front office on Thursday, naming Keia Clarke the team’s new Chief Executive Officer.

“I am very excited about my new role at the Liberty,” Clarke said in a team statement. “We have an opportunity to bring world-class basketball to fans, starting with games at the Barclays Center that will enable a fan experience no one has seen in the WNBA. The league is at a key inflection point and I look forward to playing a part in elevating professional women’s basketball to national prominence.”

Clarke has been with the Liberty since 2010. According to the statement, Clarke’s duties as CEO will have her “lead and manage all business aspects of the Liberty organization”. She is expected to work closely with general manager Jonathan Kolb and Liberty Alternate Governor Oliver Weisberg.

The New Jersey resident and Canisius alumna has also been named to the WNBA’s Social Justice Program Social Justice Council described by the league as “a collaborative cohort including players, league senior management, and team leaders to develop a long-term WNBA social justice platform”. Free agent newcomer Layshia Clarendon is also part of the council, which league commissioner

Clarke played a major role in the Liberty’s scheduled move to Barclays Center, where they’re expected to play their home games in 2021 and beyond. She also helped set up the Liberty’s local television deal, as YES Network became the team’s flagship station last year.

“Keia has an incredible ability to combine strategic thinking, operating excellence and a focus on people and talent,” said Liberty owner Joe Tsai. “These qualities, plus her unassuming leadership style, will take our Liberty franchise to the next level.”

The Liberty are currently stationed at IMG Academy at Bradenton with the rest of the WNBA for an isolated 2020 season. They’ll help open the proceedings on Saturday afternoon against the Seattle Storm (12 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

Megan Walker joins New York Liberty in WNBA bubble

by

The New York Liberty are set to add another rookie to their proceedings, as Megan Walker has reported to Bradenton.

New York Liberty rookie Megan Walker is set to join her New York Liberty teammates at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for the 2020 WNBA season. The University of Connecticut alumna tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the team’s departure but a pair of negative tests this week has allowed her to partake.

Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb confirmed that Walker had arrived during remote press availability on Thursday afternoon.

“Right now, she’s in the league’s quarantine protocol,” Kolb said via Zoom. “Assuming that she tests negative throughout timeline, we expect her to be with us early next week.”

Walker was the Liberty’s second pick in the WNBA Draft. She was an early entry into the pros after averaging 19.7 points and 8.4 rebounds in her junior season. The Richmond, Virginia native earned the American Athletic Conference’s Player of the Year Award for her efforts. Previous winners include WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collie, last season’s Rookie of the Year. The Liberty chose her with the ninth overall pick in April.

Head coach Walt Hopkins said that Walker has remained in contact with both the coaching staff and her teammates throughout the process.

“We’ll have these next few days to talk to her as much as possible,” Hopkins said. “When I talked to her last night, she didn’t sound out of sorts with anything. She was right there with us. She has watched practices, the ones we have recorded. She’s gotten to watch the scrimmages and seems to have a really good handle on what we’re trying to do.”

Walker is one of seven rookies on the current Liberty roster. The list is headlined by top overall pick Sabrina Ionescu, who is joined by fellow draftees Jazmine Jones, Kylee Shook, and Leaonna Odom. Jocelyn Willoughby was added through a draft-night trade with Phoenix while Joyner Holmes was signed after veteran Rebecca Allen opted out of the 2020 season.

The Liberty will officially tip off the WNBA’s Floridian endeavors on Saturday afternoon against the Seattle Storm (12 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Liberty to open 2020 WNBA proceedings (Full Schedule)

by

The New York Liberty’s opening matchup with the Seattle Storm will officially open WNBA proceedings in the Bradenton bubble.

The New York Liberty will help officially christen the WNBA bubble setup in Bradenton, Florida…affectionately referred to as the “Wubble” by participants and media…on July 25. New York’s 2020 debut will officially open the 2020 season, the WNBA’s 24th year of operation, as they take on the Seattle Storm.

Each of the league’s dozen squads is currently headquartered at IMG Academy preparing for a 22-game season. Games will take place on two courts set up at Feld Entertainment Center in nearby Palmetto. The Liberty’s tilt with Seattle will tip-off at noon Eastern Time and be televised nationally on ESPN. It is part of a WNBA tripleheader to open the season, with a Western Conference title between the Los Angeles Sparks and Phoenix Mercury following at 3 p.m. ET on ABC. Opening day proceedings wrap up with the defending champion Washington Mystics taking on the Indiana Fever two hours later.

The premiere showdown against Seattle will serve as the professional debut for Sabrina Ionescu, New York’s top overall pick of April’s WNBA Draft. Ionescu is one of six rookies on the Liberty roster, which also welcomes back All-Star Kia Nurse. Ionescu’s debut coincides with the return of Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird for Seattle. The pair were key factors behind the Storm’s 2018 WNBA Finals run, which saw Stewart earn seasonal MVP honors and Bird don her third championship ring. They both missed all of last season with injuries, their ailments relegating Seattle to a sixth-place finish in the standings. The Storm would top Minnesota in the playoff quarterfinals before falling to Los Angeles.

Other key dates for the Liberty include…

July 29 (Dallas)-The youngest teams in the WNBA will square off over 3,000 miles from the University of Oregon, the alma mater of Ionescu and Satou Sabally. Dallas’ top pick heard her name called minutes after her fellow former Duck as the second overall choice last spring.

August 5 (Minnesota)-The first of two matchups with the Lynx will be a nostalgic time for each team’s respective bench. Liberty head coach Walt Hopkins spent the past three seasons as a Minnesota assistant (winning the 2017 WNBA Finals). His seat has since been occupied by Naismith Hall-of-Famer Katie Smith, who spent the last seven years in the Liberty organization, the last two as head coach.

August 7 (Washington)-Traded to the Mystics this offseason, it remains to be seen if Tina Charles, the Liberty’s all-time leading scorer, as she awaits medical clearance to partake in Floridian proceedings. It will nonetheless be the first of two meetings with the defending WNBA champions.

August 20 (Chicago)-Another Oregon reunion awaits Ionescu, as the Sky chose Ruthy Hebard with the seventh overall pick in April.

August 29 (Las Vegas)-In addition to another get-together with former head coach Bill Laimbeer (who has gone 5-1 against New York since taking the Aces’ job in 2018), this game has added meaning as the WNBA’s network debut on CBS.

All put six games on the Liberty’s current schedule have earned a national window on the networks of ESPN and CBS. An updated schedule on the team’s YES Network flagship television station will be released at a later date.

Check out the full Liberty schedule below…

Date Opponent Time (ET) TV
July 25 Seattle 12 p.m. ESPN
July 29 Dallas 8 p.m. CBSSN
July 31 Atlanta 7 p.m. TBD
August 2 Phoenix 1 p.m. ESPN
August 5 Minnesota 7 p.m. CBSSN
August 7 Washington 7 p.m. ESPN2
August 9 Las Vegas 3 p.m. ESPN
August 11 Los Angeles 9 p.m. ESPN2
August 13 Indiana 6 p.m. TBD
August 15 Minnesota 6 p.m. CBSSN
August 18 Seattle 10 p.m. TBD
August 20 Chicago 7 p.m. CBSSN
August 22 Connecticut 4 p.m. CBSSN
August 25 Chicago 7 p.m. CBSSN
August 27 Dallas 8 p.m. CBSSN
August 29 Las Vegas 4 p.m. CBS
September 1 Connecticut 7 p.m. CBSSN
September 3 Atlanta 7 p.m. TBD
September 5 Phoenix 8 p.m. TBD
September 8 Los Angeles 7 p.m. CBSSN
September 10 Indiana 7 p.m. CBSSN
September 12 Washington 4 p.m. TBD

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Liberty: Walt Hopkins speaks after first day of practice

by

From the courts at IMG Academy, New York Liberty head coach Walt Hopkins and two of his proteges spoke after the first day of workouts.

View this post on Instagram

Back in the lab #LibertyLoud🗽

A post shared by New York Liberty (@nyliberty) on

Most New Yorkers abscond to Florida to relax, maybe even retire. The New York Liberty are doing the exact opposite.

Two weeks from Saturday, the WNBA will commence its 24th season of operation at IMG Academy in Bradenton. By the end of this weekend, each of the league’s dozen teams will have made the trip south and the Liberty officially got things rolling with their first organized workouts.

Hopkins spoke with the media afterward, enthused by the first on-court happenings. Counting Hopkins himself, the Liberty feature seven rookies on their roster, not counting ninth overall pick Megan Walker (who has not reported to Florida after testing positive for COVID-19). That group is headlined by top overall selection and queen of the NCAA triple-double Sabrina Ionescu. If videos shared by the Liberty’s official accounts are any indication, it appears that Ionescu is already forming a rapport with All-Star teammate Kia Nurse.

View this post on Instagram

@kianurse x @sabrina_i, get used to it 💥🗽

A post shared by New York Liberty (@nyliberty) on

View this post on Instagram

Day 1 done. 🎤 🔥

A post shared by New York Liberty (@nyliberty) on

“It was a really good first day,” Hopkins remarked in a Zoom teleconference. “Having young legs, having people who aren’t used to what the WNBA normally looks like, this is an experience for them no matter where we’re playing or what the conditions are. It’s been nice. The energy has just been so positive and the older players on the team have really been good in terms of bringing them along and really being supportive. We have a great group.”

Hopkins takes over the Liberty duties after three seasons as an assistant with the Minnesota Lynx (ironically, former Liberty head coach and Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer Katie Smith took Hopkins’ seat on the Lynx bench). He hails from Brooklyn, where the Liberty were set to christen Barclays Center as their new home arena before the pandemic forced the league to form the bubble at IMG.

Save for losing his voice in crowded surroundings, as the Liberty’s competition is likewise preparing, Hopkins is pleased with what he’s seen in the so-called “Wubble”.

“It could be a consequence of having more than half the team be rookies, but they don’t look like rookies,” Hopkins said. “They don’t like scared or have the blank look on their face when you’re trying to explain an action or they don’t understand terminology. I think (thanks to) the lead-up that we had, discussions with our quarterback club and Zoom meetings, and things like that, the familiarity with what we’re doing has been really high. We’ve been able to dive right in.”

The feeling was mutual amongst Hopkins’ freshest newcomer, Joyner Holmes. A Texas alumna, Holmes was added to the team after reserve forward Rebecca Allen opted out of the 2020 proceedings.

Holmes explained that Hopkins and his rapid approach to the game was one of the biggest things that attracted her to New York. She was originally chosen in the second round of April’s draft by Seattle (19th overall) but was let go in the first series of roster cuts to ensure players would receive their full salaries.

“The coaching staff, for me, was a really big plus,” Holmes said. “I like Walt a lot. He’s really free-range and willing to let us do whatever, try to follow his system. That was a really big target for me.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised by Joyner’s skillset because she got to show it off a bit at Texas,” Hopkins added. “She’s really skilled. She really does have guard skills for her size (6’3), she can play multiple positions, guard multiple positions. She’s an eager learner, has totally bought in and responded to anything we’ve needed. We’re really excited about her.”

Along for the ride is a select handful of veterans, including center/forward Kiah Stokes. Things are just a little bit different since Stokes last wore the Liberty’s brand of seafoam green. Stokes is returning to WNBA action after taking a year off from New York exploits for personal reasons. Having last donned the Liberty colors in 2018, Stokes will be joined by only two comrades from that squad. She’s particularly close to both, as she’ll be reuniting with Nurse, a fellow champion from the University of Connecticut. Stokes will also be manning the interior with center/forward Amanda Zahui B.

The all-time leading blocker in WNBA history only turned 27 in March but is the second-oldest member of the modern Liberty behind free agent addition Layshia Clarendon (29). Stokes said she will be embracing her role as a new team leader.

“I’m looking forward to it. Me, Zahui, and Kia kind of joke about it, we’re the vets now, though we’re pretty young,” Stokes said with a smile. “It’s crazy to think how much our team has changed already. But I’m really looking forward to it. I think it will help push me to become a better player, a better leader.”

Along with Clarendon, Stokes is also a rare member of the Liberty who has experienced the joy of the WNBA Playoffs. In her rookie campaign of 2015, Stokes was the heroine of an Eastern semifinal, win-or-go-home matchup with Washington, sinking the layup that put the Liberty ahead for good and blocking the Mystics’ attempt at tying the game on their final possession.

“I think this is going to be a fresh start. When I came into the league, we were pretty good and then we kind of had a falling off. But I think this is just a brand new start. We have the opportunity to make a statement. Such a young team can grow together, build together and I think that if we all just buy in and work really hard, we can become something really, really special.”

The WNBA season is scheduled to open on July 25.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

VIDEO: Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty engage in first “Wubble” workouts

by

Top overall pick Sabrina Ionescu donned the New York Liberty’s iconic colors for the first time, as practices are underway at IMG Academy.

Sabrina Ionescu made her unofficial New York Liberty debut on Thursday, donning the team’s traditional seafoam color scheme for the first time in a public setting.

In a video shared by the Liberty, Ionescu takes the IMG Academy court with New York assistant coach Dustin Gray and whetted the appetite of metropolitan hoops fans with several swishes, including a few from deep. Ionescu is the top overall pick of the 2020 WNBA Draft, chosen out of Oregon back in April. She is the NCAA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles and is the only player, male or female, in NCAA history to tally at least 2,000 points (2,562), 1,000 rebounds (1,040), and 1,000 assists (1,091) over her career.

Her rookie season now commences as the WNBA prepares to hold a 22-game season headquartered at IMG in Bradenton, Florida, a setup that has been referred to some as the “Wubble” by participants and media alike. The Liberty currently have 11 players on their roster, including seven rookies, after Asia Durr opted-out of the proceedings earlier this week.

Ionescu wasn’t the only one to take to the Bradenton courts. Other public participants included 2019 All-Star and third-year veteran Kia Nurse, as well as Ionescu’s fellow first-round selection Jazmine Jones (12th overall). Jones is seen likewise working with Gray, while Nurse puts up jumpers with the assistance of fellow new assistant coach Kelly Schumaker. Both assistants adorn masks and gloves while working with their players, as the WNBA attempts to commence the 2020 campaign amid surging coronavirus cases in Florida.

The schedule for the 2020 WNBA season will be released at a later date.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags 

BREAKING NEWS: New York Liberty G Asia Durr to miss 2020 WNBA season

by

The New York Liberty will be missing another guard in Florida, as 2019’s second overall pick has opted out of the upcoming season.

New York Liberty guard Asia Durr has elected to skip the 2020 WNBA season.

Durr, 23, revealed her decision on her social media accounts. In her statement, the Louisville alumna revealed that she tested positive for COVID-19 last month. The diagnosis played a major role in her decision to skip the upcoming season, which will take place in a bubble-like surrounding at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

“After much thought and consultation with my doctors and the Liberty, I have decided not to play the 2020 WNBA season,” Durr’s statement begins. “After testing positive for COVID-19 on June 8, my battle with it has been complicated and arduous. As I continue to fully recover, I had to make the difficult decision on a deadline to opt out as a medical High Risk player. So much about this virus is unknown and my heart is heavy, even as I make the decision that I know is best for my long-term wellness.”

The Liberty chose Durr with the second overall pick of the 2019 WNBA Draft. She had spent this offseason recovering from a groin injury that cost her 16 games of her rookie campaign and had undergone successful surgery in September. Durr averaged 9.7 points over 18 games (15 starts), with her season-best performance being a 20-point showing in a June win over Minnesota.

“Asia worked extremely hard this offseason to put herself in position to take a major leap forward in her second WNBA season,” said Liberty General Manager Jonathan Kolb in a team statement. “While we are disappointed that we will need to wait a bit longer to see her emerge as one of the bright young players in the game, we fully recognize and support the difficult decision she had to make amidst unprecedented circumstances. Brooklyn will be ready for her in 2021.”

Durr is the latest member of the Liberty to opt-out of the Florida endeavor, joining Rebecca Allen. Several others, including Marine Johannes, Stephanie Talbot, and Han Xu opted to remain overseas.

“I want to thank my teammates, the Liberty organization, our fans, and my partners for their compassion,” Durr said. “I plan to stay connected to the team virtually and support them on the court and in their efforts around social justice and activism from the bubble however I can. I hope you will do the same.”

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Liberty start to make their way to the WNBA bubble

by

Members of the New York Liberty have descended upon IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida as the WNBA prepare to open a 22-game season.

WNBA teams have begun their Floridan descent, as all but one of them have started to make their way to Bradenton’s IMG Academy for the opening of their 2020 season. The league is set to play a 22-game season headquartered in Florida after their May opening was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Many players have taken to social media to showcase their new surroundings and representatives of the New York Liberty are no exception. Most notably, Kiah Stokes was more than happy to play into the Liberty’s reputation as a de facto United Nations of basketball. The center/forward of Turkish descent revealed that she would be rooming with guard Kia Nurse and fellow interior prescience Amanda Zahui B, who respectively hail from Canada and Sweden.

Elsewhere, veteran newcomer Layshia Clarendon announced her departure for the endeavor with a post that expressed a hint of trepidation but also hope and confidence in the league’s medical protocols.

Rookies also got in on the social sharing, with first-round picks Sabrina Ionescu and Jazmine Jones commemorating their arrivals in their Instagram Stories.

The WNBA has opted to create a bubble-like surrounding at IMG Academy, affectionately referred to by some players and media as the “wubble” (though Stokes spoke out against that name on Twitter). Coronavirus cases have surged in Florida, but the league is confident in its setup. 137 players were tested upon their arrival in Florida this week with seven testing positive, per a league statement. The statement explains that those who tested positive “will remain in self-isolation until she satisfies public health protocols for discontinuing isolation and has been cleared by a physician”. Players and staff will be tested daily for the next two weeks and will then quarantine for four days.

Of the league’s dozen teams, only the Indiana Fever has yet to report to Florida due to “an abundance of caution due to the CDC’s close contact self-quarantine requirements”. Several players have already opted out of the 2020 season due to health concerns, including Rebecca Allen and Asia Durr of the Liberty. Numerous national names have also opted out, including All-Stars Liz Cambage of Las Vegas and Jonquel Jones of Connecticut.

Player reviews of the “wubble” appear to be mixed thus far. Participants like Minnesota’s Lexie Brown have offered positive reviews thus far, while negative response have appeared to come from Seattle’s Jewell Loyd, among others.

In their effort to press on, the WNBA has announced that the 2020 season will be dedicated to social justice. The Floridian courts and players’ warm-up uniforms will bear the “Black Lives Matter” slogan and game uniforms on opening weekend will feature the names of female victims of police brutality and racial violence. Additionally, a Social Justice Council has been formed, one whose mission is described as a “driving force of necessary and continuing conversations about race, voting rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and gun control amongst other important societal issues”. Clarendon is among those on the council.

“We are incredibly proud of WNBA players who continue to lead with their inspiring voices and effective actions in the league’s dedicated fight against systemic racism and violence,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a league statement. “Working together with the WNBPA and the teams, the league aims to highlight players’ social justice efforts throughout the 2020 season and beyond.  Systemic change can’t happen overnight, but it is our shared responsibility to do everything we can to raise awareness and promote the justice we hope to see in society.”

The league’s schedule is expected to be released at a later date.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Liberty add rookie Joyner Holmes to complete roster

by

The New York Liberty added the Texas alumna Holmes to cap off their 2020 roster after Rebecca Allen opted out earlier this week.

In a shocking twist, the New York Liberty somehow got younger.

New York’s WNBA squad added their seventh rookie to their roster on Friday in the form of Joyner Holmes, The move comes less than 24 hours after veteran Rebecca Allen announced she would not partake in the league’s potential “bubble”-based season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Holmes was chosen by the Seattle Storm in the second round (19th overall) of April’s WNBA Draft. Hailing from Texas, Holmes averaged 11.1 points and 7.5 rebounds over four years in Austin. She opened her final season in Austin with seven consecutive double-doubles (earning 27 overall during her four seasons as a Longhorn) and appeared in three consecutive NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournaments. Holmes appeared on the Big 12’s First Team in her freshman season (where she also took home the conference’s top freshman honor) and later earned honorable mentions in her junior and senior campaigns.

Holmes’ most notable Austin moment perhaps came in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. In the late stages of a one-point game against North Carolina State, Holmes drew an offensive foul before putting in a missed rebound to clinch the Longhorns’ ticket to the Sweet 16 via an 84-80 win.

Prior to her Austin arrival, Holmes made a name for herself as a McDonald’s All-American and as a member of the 2014 FIBA Under-17 Women’s Basketball World Cup’s All-Tournament team, representing the United States. Among her teammates in that endeavor in the Czech Republic were new Liberty teammates Asia Durr and Sabrina Ionescu.

Holmes was available after getting cut by Seattle when WNBA rosters were required to cut down to 12 players last month. She joins the young New York stable that includes each of their six draft picks, a group headlined by Ionescu, the top overall selection. Standing at 6’3, Holmes can provide some of the length and defensive prowess that Allen took with her back to Australia. New York was relatively low on interior help after sophomore center/forward Han Xu opted to stay overseas during the May cutdowns, joining fellow international representatives Marine Johannes and Stephanie Talbot.

The WNBA is currently planning for a 22-game season to be held in Bradenton. Their 24th season of play was originally slated to begin in May but was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An uptick in cases in the Sunshine State have played a role in several other notable names opting to sit out, including All-Star Jonquel Jones of the Connecticut Sun and LaToya Sanders of the defending champion Washington Mystics. The season’s delay likely prevents the Liberty from making their full-time debut at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

New York Liberty: Rebecca Allen opts out of 2020 season

by

The Australian-born Allen, the longest-tenured member of the New York Liberty, has chosen not to take part in the upcoming WNBA season.

The New York Liberty will be missing another veteran if and when they take the court for the 2020 WNBA season.

Guard/forward Rebecca Allen announced on Thursday that she will not partake in the league’s potential 22-game season, set to held in a “bubble” setting at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The WNBA previously announced that it is aiming for a July 24 start to its 24th season of play.

“This has absolutely been one of the toughest decisions, but after much thought and discussions, I have decided to opt out of the 2020 season in Florida,” Allen said in a team statement. “The uncertainty of the COVID-19 crisis and the logistical health risks related to travel have led me to conclude that it’s best if I not play in the WNBA this year.”

Thursday marked the deadline for WNBA players to inform their squads about their potential participation in the Bradenton bubble. Other opt-outs include defending rebound champion Jonquel Jones of the Connecticut Sun and LaToya Sanders of the defending champion Washington Mystics. Others, including Renee Montgomery and Tiffany Hayes of the Atlanta Dream, have opted to take the year off to focus on social advocacy.

“I would like to thank the Liberty for their support and understanding,” Allen added. “I’ll certainly miss all my teammates, staff and fans this year. I’ll be cheering loud from Australia and I look forward to getting back on the court in 2021.”

New Liberty head coach Walt Hopkins had been looking forward to working with Allen, having constantly sung her praises since taking the job in January.

“She’s got a tremendous skill set and she’s got a rare mix of characteristics in that she’s about 6’2 and she’s really long and she’s deceptively athletic to go with her ability to put the ball on the floor and get fouled and shoot the three at such a high level,” Hopkins said earlier this spring. “That’s really the type of player we absolutely need for this system to work and we’ve got one built-in already. On top of that, she’s a phenomenal person.”

Allen, 27, was set to be the longest-tenured member of the Liberty, having been with the team since coming on as a free agent in 2015. She developed a reputation as a strong defender off the bench, as her wingspan earned her the nickname “Spida” in her native Australia. Allen enjoyed a bit of a breakout season in 2019, posting career-best averages in points (7.2) and minutes (17.2). She also finished seventh in the WNBA in three-point percentage (42.6 percent). Last August, Allen set a Liberty record with 20 points in the second quarter in a home tilt against Minnesota. Such a tally was two points behind the league’s best single-period scoring output (set by Diana Taurasi of Phoenix in 2006).

This offseason, Allen earned MVP honors in Poland’s Basket Liga Kobiet, partaking in Arka Gdynia’s perfect season prior to the league’s coronavirus-induced shutdown in March. Allen also made a name for herself in Australia’s national basketball endeavors. Part of the women’s team known as the “Opals”, Allen averaged 14 points in a trio of Olympic qualifiers. The Opals punched their ticket with wins over Chinese Taipei and India. Additionally, Allen was named to All-Star Five of the 2019 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Bangalore. She appeared alongside Liberty teammate Han Xu and led the Opals with 20 points in their bronze medal game victory over South Korea.

Allen is one of four New Yorkers sitting out the 2020 season. Fellow international representatives Han and Marine Johannes announced their intentions to stay in their respective homelands of China and France in May, while Liberty newcomer and Allen’s Opals teammate Stephanie Talbot chose to likewise remain in Australia.

With Allen’s temporary defection, Amanda Zahui B is slated to be the longest-tenured New Yorker on the hardwood, having joined the team in a 2016 trade with the Tulsa Shock. Zahui B penned an emotional tribute to her close friend Allen on Twitter.

She was far from the only New Yorker to publicly support Allen’s decision.

“Rebecca is a consummate professional and a key factor to the team’s new style of play,” Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said. “We understand that these decisions are never easy and, while she will certainly be missed this season, we fully support her decision to do what is best for her and her family.”

The Liberty were set to play their first full-time season at Barclays Center in Brooklyn prior to the WNBA’s postponement of the 2020 season. Their current roster features six rookie, headlined by top overall WNBA Draft pick Sabrina Ionescu from Oregon.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags