2022 New York Liberty season

The 2022 New York Liberty season was the 26th season for the New York Liberty franchise of the WNBA. The Liberty opened the regular season on May 7, 2022, versus the Connecticut Sun.[1]

2022 New York Liberty season
CoachSandy Brondello
ArenaBarclays Center
Attendance5,327 per game
Results
Record16–20 (.444)
Place4th (Eastern)
Playoff finish7th seed
Lost in 1st Round to the Chicago Sky
Team Leaders
PointsSabrina Ionescu – 17.4 ppg
ReboundsNatasha Howard – 7.3 rpg
AssistsSabrina Ionescu – 6.3 apg

Ahead of the season, the Liberty parted ways with head coach Walt Hopkins on December 6, 2021, after two years with the team.[2] On January 7, 2022, the Liberty announced the hiring of new head coach Sandy Brondello[3]

On May 3, 2022, the Liberty announced that 1st Round draft pick Nyara Sabally had undergone a successful Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation and would miss the entire 2022 season.[4]

The Liberty won their first game of the season but their quick start did not last long. They went on a seven game losing streak after their opening day win to finish May 1–7. The Liberty were able to turn things around in June, finishing the month 7–4 and seeming to develop a pattern of winning two games and then losing one. That pattern occurred three times in the month. That streak did not last into July as the team went 3–7 in the month and had a six game losing streak. To finish an up-and-down season, they went 5–2 in August and secured the seventh seed in the 2022 WNBA Playoffs with a 16–20 overall record. Their sixteen regular season wins was the franchise's most since they won twenty two games in 2017.

As the seventh seed, the Liberty were matched up against the second seed Chicago Sky in the first round of the playoffs, with Chicago having home court advantage. That advantage did not last long as the Liberty won the opening game of the series 98–91. The Liberty wouldn't build on that momentum and lost the next two games, including the series decider at home, by a combined fifty-six points.

Transactions edit

WNBA draft edit

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/team/country
15Nyara Sabally  GermanyOregon
329Sika Koné  MaliCB Islas Canarias (Spain)

Trades and Roster Changes edit

DateTransaction
December 6, 2021Parted ways with head coach Walt Hopkins
December 31, 2021Renounced the rights to Olcay Cakir[5]
January 7, 2022Hired Sandy Brondello as head coach [6]
January 11, 2022Extended Qualifying Offers to Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe and Paris Kea[7]
January 14, 2022Signed Paris Kea to the Qualifying Offer[8]
February 3, 2022Signed Stefanie Dolson to a Two-Year Deal[9]
February 4, 2022Waived Jazmine Jones and Leaonna Odom[10][11]
Signed Rebecca Allen to a Two-Year Deal[12]
March 16, 2022Hired Olaf Lange, Roneeka Hodges, and Zach O'Brien as assistant coaches[13]
April 11, 2022Traded a 2023 Second Round Pick to the Seattle Storm for the rights to Lorela Cubaj[14]
April 15, 2022Signed Lorela Cubaj to a rookie-scale contract
April 27, 2022Waived Paris Kea[15]
May 2, 2022Full Season Suspension of the contract for Kylee Shook due to personal reasons
May 5, 2022Temporarily Suspend Rebecca Allen due to Overseas Commitments
May 6, 2022Signed Kaila Charles to a Hardship Contract [16]
May 8, 2022Released Kaila Charles from her Hardship Contract
May 15, 2022Exercised the 4th Year Team Option on Sabrina Ionescu
May 16, 2022Exercised the 4th Year Team Option on Jocelyn Willoughby
May 17, 2022Activated Rebecca Allen from her Temporary Suspension
May 21, 2022Signed Crystal Dangerfield to a Hardship Contract[17]
June 8, 2022Traded AD to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Megan Walker and the rights to Raquel Carrera[18]
Waived Megan Walker
Signed Marine Johannès[19]
Released Crystal Dangerfield from her Hardship Contract
June 9, 2022Signed Crystal Dangerfield to a Hardship Contract[20]
June 26, 2022Released Crystal Dangerfield from her Hardship Contract
July 1, 2022Waived Lorela Cubaj[21]
July 3, 2022Signed Crystal Dangerfield[22]

Roster edit

2022 New York Liberty roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G/F9 Allen, Rebecca6' 2" (1.88m)162 lb (73kg)1992-11-06Australia6
G3 Dangerfield, Crystal5' 5" (1.65m)130 lb (59kg)1998-05-11Connecticut1
C31 Dolson, Stefanie6' 5" (1.96m)235 lb (107kg)1992-01-08Connecticut8
F6 Howard, Natasha6' 2" (1.88m)165 lb (75kg)1991-09-02Florida State8
G20 Ionescu, Sabrina5' 11" (1.8m)165 lb (75kg)1997-12-06Oregon2
G23 Johannès, Marine5' 10" (1.78m)134 lb (61kg)01-21-1995France1
G/F44 Laney, Betnijah6' 0" (1.83m)166 lb (75kg)1993-10-29Rutgers6
F12 Onyenwere, Michaela6' 0" (1.83m)178 lb (81kg)1999-08-10UCLA1
G/F2 Richards, DiDi6' 2" (1.88m)164 lb (74kg)1999-02-08Baylor1
G32 Whitcomb, Sami5' 10" (1.78m)145 lb (66kg)1988-07-20Washington5
G/F13 Willoughby, Jocelyn6' 0" (1.83m)180 lb (82kg)1998-03-25Virginia1
C21 Xu, Han6' 10" (2.08m)193 lb (88kg)10-31-1999China1
Head coach
Sandy Brondello (Western Sydney)
Assistant coaches
Olaf Lange
Roneeka Hodges (Florida State)
Zach O'Brien
Athletic trainer
Terri Acosta
Strength and conditioning coach
Emily Zaler

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

Depth edit

Pos.StarterBench
CStefanie DolsonHan Xu
PFNatasha HowardMichaela Onyenwere
SFBetnijah LaneyRebecca Allen
Jocelyn Willoughby
SGSabrina IonescuMarine Johannès
DiDi Richards
PGCrystal DangerfieldSami Whitcomb

Schedule edit

Preseason edit

2022 pre-season game log
April: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1April 30WashingtonCanceledBarclays Center0–0
2022 pre-season schedule

Regular Season edit

2022 game log
Total: 16–20 (Home: 9–9; Road: 7–11)
August: 5–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 2–2)
2022 season schedule

Playoffs edit

2022 playoff game log
First round vs. Chicago Sky
Lost Series: 1–2
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1August 17@ ChicagoW 98–91N. Howard
Ionescu (22)
Dolson
N. Howard
Ionescu (7)
Marine Johannès (7)Wintrust Arena
7,524
1–0
2August 20@ ChicagoL 62–100Onyenwere
Xu (10)
Ionescu
Xu (5)
Dolson
Ionescu
Laney
Whitcomb (3)
Wintrust Arena
7,732
1–1
3August 23ChicagoL 72–90Betnijah Laney (15)Natasha Howard (11)Ionescu
Johannès (4)
Barclays Center
7,837
1–2
2022 playoff schedule

Standings edit

# W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1xLas Vegas Aces2610.72215–313–513–59–1
2xChicago Sky2610.72215–314–412–69–1
3xConnecticut Sun2511.6941.011–713–512–65–5
4xSeattle Storm2214.6114.010–813–59–96–4
5xWashington Mystics2214.6114.011–712–610–85–5
6xDallas Wings1818.5008.08–108–1010–85–5
7xNew York Liberty1620.44410.010–89–97–116–4
8xPhoenix Mercury1521.41711.07–1111–74–143–7
9eMinnesota Lynx1422.38912.08–107–117–114–6
10eAtlanta Dream1422.38912.05–138–106–123–7
11eLos Angeles Sparks1323.36113.06–127–116–123–7
12eIndiana Fever531.13921.02–163–152–162–8

Notes

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

Playoffs edit

Round One:
Best-of-3
Semifinals:
Best-of-5
Finals:
Best-of-5
         
1Las Vegas Aces2
8Phoenix Mercury0
1Las Vegas Aces3
4Seattle Storm1
4Seattle Storm2
5Washington Mystics0
1Las Vegas Aces3
3Connecticut Sun1
2Chicago Sky2
7New York Liberty1
2Chicago Sky2
3Connecticut Sun3
3Connecticut Sun2
6Dallas Wings1

Bold Series winner

Statistics edit

Legend
  GPGames 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 gameTeam leaderLeague leader

Regular Season edit

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Sabrina Ionescu363632.3.411.333.9317.16.31.10.317.4
Natasha Howard353529.9.482.326.7157.32.31.31.015.1
Betnijah Laney9628.3.422.379.8753.32.80.40.111.2
Marine Johannès241025.5.464.437.8701.73.40.60.110.0
Han Xu32016.8.493.444.7963.60.90.50.78.5
Stefanie Dolson363622.9.493.394.9054.81.80.40.88.1
Rebecca Allen251920.9.379.313.8333.41.20.81.07.0
Sami Whitcomb35621.3.366.351.8702.42.30.70.16.5
Crystal Dangerfield302722.1.395.323.7002.12.50.60.15.4
Michaela Onyenwere34113.7.377.300.8362.10.40.40.24.7
Jocelyn Willoughby11411.0.423.273.5001.60.40.50.22.6
DiDi Richards14011.1.306.273.7001.71.40.10.42.3
AD Durr1007.0.176.111.8750.10.40.40.21.4
Lorela Cubaj1108.0.333.000.0002.10.40.00.20.7


Waived/Released during the season
Traded during the season
Acquired during the season

Playoffs edit

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Natasha Howard3327.7.442.1001.0006.71.00.70.014.7
Sabrina Ionescu3331.0.531.400.7506.04.31.00.314.3
Betnijah Laney3324.3.419.250.8754.03.30.70.311.3
Stefanie Dolson3326.3.444.600.0003.72.70.01.06.3
Marine Johannès3123.0.429.4001.0002.34.31.70.05.7
Han Xu3010.0.4171.000.8332.70.30.00.75.3
Michaela Onyenwere307.3.364.0001.0001.30.00.00.04.7
Rebecca Allen3016.3.286.1671.0003.01.30.70.34.3
DiDi Richards208.5.400.0001.0001.51.01.00.04.0
Sami Whitcomb3014.7.364.429.0000.32.01.00.03.7
Jocelyn Willoughby207.01.000.000.6670.50.00.00.03.0
Crystal Dangerfield329.0.273.250.0000.30.30.00.02.3

Awards and honors edit

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Sabrina IonescuEastern Conference Player of the WeekJune 13[23]
July 8[24]
August 8[25]
August 15[26]
WNBA All-Star StarterJune 22[27]
Eastern Conference Player of the Month - JuneJuly 5[28]
Eastern Conference Player of the Month - AugustAugust 16[29]
All-WNBA Second TeamSeptember 15[30]
Natasha HowardWNBA All-Star SelectionJune 28[31]

References edit

  1. ^ "2022 New York Liberty Schedule". Women's National Basketball Association. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  2. ^ Voepel, Mechelle. "Walt Hopkins out as New York Liberty coach after two years". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  3. ^ "New York Liberty Name Sandy Brondello as Head Coach". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  4. ^ "Nyara Sabally Medical Update". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  5. ^ "WNBA Transctions – Player Movement". acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  6. ^ "New York Liberty Name Sandy Brondello as Head Coach". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  7. ^ "Rachel Galligan Tweet". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  8. ^ "Rachel Galligan Tweet 2". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  9. ^ "New York Liberty Sign 2021 WNBA Champion Stefanie Dolson". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  10. ^ "NY Liberty Tweet". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  11. ^ "NY Liberty Tweet 2". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  12. ^ "New York Liberty re-sign Rebecca Allen". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  13. ^ "New York Liberty Finalize 2022 Coaching Staff". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  14. ^ "New York Liberty Select Nyara Sabally, Lorela Cubaj and Sika Kone in 2022 WNBA Draft". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  15. ^ "New York Liberty waive Paris Kea. Thank you @pariskea22 for your contributions on and off the court. 🗽". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  16. ^ "The New York Liberty announced today that the team has signed guard/forward Kaila Charles on a hardship contract. Kaila will be available for tomorrow's season opener against the Connecticut Sun at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN. Welcome to New York, Kaila!🗽". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  17. ^ "The New York Liberty announced today that the team has signed guard and 2020 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award Winner, @crystald2_ on a hardship contract. 1/2". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  18. ^ "Atlanta Dream Acquire AD in Trade with New York". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  19. ^ "Liberty Trade AD Durr to Dream for Raquel Carrera, Sign Marine Johannès". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  20. ^ "Liberty Re-sign Crystal Dangerfield to Hardship Contract". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  21. ^ New York Liberty [@nyliberty] (July 1, 2022). "Thank you, @LorelaCubaj for your hard work and dedication on and off the court.🗽" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ^ "Liberty Re-sign Crystal Dangerfield to Rest-of-Season Contract". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  23. ^ @WNBA (June 13, 2022). "We had some pretty memorable games from these two this week 🔥 The WNBA Players of the Week are @breannastewart and @sabrina_i20 👏" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ^ @nyliberty (July 8, 2022). "And another one! @sabrina_i20 is the @wnbaEastern Conference Player of the Week! 👏" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ @WNBA (August 8, 2022). "Your #WNBA Week 12 Players of the Week ⬇ @Teaira_15 and @sabrina_i20 showed up and showed OUT last week for their squads 🙌" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ^ @WNBA (August 15, 2022). "These two balled out during the last week of the #WNBA regular season 🙌 @_ajawilson22 and @sabrina_i20 are your Week 13 Players of the Week 🚨" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "AT&T WNBA All-Star Starters Announced With Seattle Storm's Sue Bird Extending Record-Number of All-Star Selections to 13". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  28. ^ @WNBA (July 5, 2022). "These two WENT OFF all June! 👏 @breannastewart & @sabrina_i20 are your Western and Eastern Conference @Kia #WNBA Players of the Month 🤩" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  29. ^ @WNBA (August 16, 2022). "They put the W on notice ALL MONTH LONG ‼ @Teaira_15 and @sabrina_i20 are your @KIA #WNBA Players of the Month #MoreThan" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  30. ^ "Kia WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson Leads 2022 All-WNBA First Team" (Press release). WNBA. September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  31. ^ "Chicago Sky Trio of Kahleah Copper, Emma Meesseman, Courtney Vandersloot Highlight Reserves for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2022". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 1, 2022.

External links edit