2022 New York Liberty season

Last updated

2022 New York Liberty season
Coach Sandy Brondello
Arena Barclays Center
Attendance5,327 per game
Results
Record1620 (.444)
Place4th (Eastern)
Playoff finish7th seed
Lost in 1st Round to the Chicago Sky
Team Leaders
Points Sabrina Ionescu – 17.4 ppg
Rebounds Natasha Howard – 7.3 rpg
Assists Sabrina Ionescu – 6.3 apg

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]

Contents

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

WNBA draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/team/country
15 Nyara Sabally Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Oregon
329 Sika Koné Flag of Mali.svg  Mali CB Islas Canarias (Spain)

Trades and Roster Changes

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 for 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

2022 New York Liberty roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G/F 9 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allen, Rebecca 6' 2" (1.88m)162 lb (73kg)1992-11-06 Australia 6
G 3 Flag of the United States.svg Dangerfield, Crystal 5' 5" (1.65m)130 lb (59kg)1998-05-11 Connecticut 1
C 31 Flag of the United States.svg Dolson, Stefanie 6' 5" (1.96m)235 lb (107kg)1992-01-08 Connecticut 8
F 6 Flag of the United States.svg Howard, Natasha 6' 2" (1.88m)165 lb (75kg)1991-09-02 Florida State 8
G 20 Flag of the United States.svg Ionescu, Sabrina 5' 11" (1.8m)165 lb (75kg)1997-12-06 Oregon 2
G 23 Flag of France.svg Johannès, Marine 5' 10" (1.78m)134 lb (61kg)01-21-1995 France 1
G/F 44 Flag of the United States.svg Laney, Betnijah 6' 0" (1.83m)166 lb (75kg)1993-10-29 Rutgers 6
F 12 Flag of the United States.svg Onyenwere, Michaela 6' 0" (1.83m)178 lb (81kg)1999-08-10 UCLA 1
G/F 2 Flag of the United States.svg Richards, DiDi 6' 2" (1.88m)164 lb (74kg)1999-02-08 Baylor 1
G 32 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Whitcomb, Sami 5' 10" (1.78m)145 lb (66kg)1988-07-20 Washington 5
G/F 13 Flag of the United States.svg Willoughby, Jocelyn 6' 0" (1.83m)180 lb (82kg)1998-03-25 Virginia 1
C 21 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xu, Han 6' 10" (2.08m)193 lb (88kg)10-31-1999 China 1
Head coach
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sandy Brondello (Western Sydney)
Assistant coaches
Flag of Germany.svg Olaf Lange
Flag of the United States.svg Roneeka Hodges (Florida State)
Flag of the United States.svg Zach O'Brien
Athletic trainer
Flag of the United States.svg Terri Acosta
Strength and conditioning coach
Flag of the United States.svg Emily Zaler

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Depth

Pos.StarterBench
C Stefanie Dolson Han Xu
PF Natasha Howard Michaela Onyenwere
SF Betnijah Laney Rebecca Allen
Jocelyn Willoughby
SG Sabrina Ionescu Marine Johannès
DiDi Richards
PG Crystal Dangerfield Sami Whitcomb

Schedule

Preseason

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

Regular Season

2022 game log
Total: 16–20 (Home: 9–9; Road: 7–11)
May: 1–7 (Home: 1–3; Road: 0–4)
July : 3–7 (Home: 2–2; Road: 1–5)
August : 5–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
30August 2 Los Angeles W 102–73 Sabrina Ionescu (31) Natasha Howard (11) Han Xu (8) Barclays Center
4,891
12–18
31August 3 Los Angeles W 64–61 Sabrina Ionescu (20) Dolson
Ionescu (8)
Sabrina Ionescu (6) Barclays Center
5,315
13–18
32August 6@ Phoenix L 62–76 Sabrina Ionescu (20) Stefanie Dolson (7) Sabrina Ionescu (5) Footprint Center
11,724
13–19
33August 8@ Dallas L 77–86 Sabrina Ionescu (32) Sabrina Ionescu (7) Sabrina Ionescu (4) College Park Center
3,036
13–20
34August 10@ Dallas W 91–73 Sami Whitcomb (15) Sabrina Ionescu (9) Sabrina Ionescu (7) College Park Center
3,795
14–20
35August 12@ Atlanta W 80–70 Crystal Dangerfield (18) Natasha Howard (12) Dangerfield
Ionescu (6)
Gateway Center Arena
3,138
15–20
36August 14 Atlanta W 87–83 N. Howard
Johannes (18)
Stefanie Dolson (12) Sabrina Ionescu (7) Barclays Center
7,561
16–20
2022 season schedule

Playoffs

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

Standings

# W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1xLas Vegas Aces 2610.72215–313–513–59–1
2xChicago Sky 2610.72215–314–412–69–1
3xConnecticut Sun 2511.6941.011–713–512–65–5
4xSeattle Storm 2214.6114.010–813–59–96–4
5xWashington Mystics 2214.6114.011–712–610–85–5
6xDallas Wings 1818.5008.08–108–1010–85–5
7xNew York Liberty 1620.44410.010–89–97–116–4
8xPhoenix Mercury 1521.41711.07–1111–74–143–7
9eMinnesota Lynx 1422.38912.08–107–117–114–6
10eAtlanta Dream 1422.38912.05–138–106–123–7
11eLos Angeles Sparks 1323.36113.06–127–116–123–7
12eIndiana Fever 531.13921.02–163–152–162–8

Notes

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

Playoffs

Round One:
Best-of-3
Semifinals:
Best-of-5
Finals:
Best-of-5
         
1 Las Vegas Aces 2
8 Phoenix Mercury 0
1 Las Vegas Aces 3
4 Seattle Storm 1
4 Seattle Storm 2
5 Washington Mystics 0
1 Las Vegas Aces 3
3 Connecticut Sun 1
2 Chicago Sky 2
7 New York Liberty 1
2 Chicago Sky 2
3 Connecticut Sun 3
3 Connecticut Sun 2
6 Dallas Wings 1

Bold Series winner

Statistics

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

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Sabrina Ionescu 363632.3.411.333.9317.16.31.10.317.4
Natasha Howard 353529.9.482.326.7157.32.31.31.015.1
Betnijah Laney 9628.3.422.379.8753.32.80.40.111.2
Marine Johannès 241025.5.464.437.8701.73.40.60.110.0
Han Xu 32016.8.493.444.7963.60.90.50.78.5
Stefanie Dolson 363622.9.493.394.9054.81.80.40.88.1
Rebecca Allen 251920.9.379.313.8333.41.20.81.07.0
Sami Whitcomb 35621.3.366.351.8702.42.30.70.16.5
Crystal Dangerfield 302722.1.395.323.7002.12.50.60.15.4
Michaela Onyenwere 34113.7.377.300.8362.10.40.40.24.7
Jocelyn Willoughby 11411.0.423.273.5001.60.40.50.22.6
DiDi Richards 14011.1.306.273.7001.71.40.10.42.3
AD Durr 1007.0.176.111.8750.10.40.40.21.4
Lorela Cubaj 1108.0.333.000.0002.10.40.00.20.7


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

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Natasha Howard 3327.7.442.1001.0006.71.00.70.014.7
Sabrina Ionescu 3331.0.531.400.7506.04.31.00.314.3
Betnijah Laney 3324.3.419.250.8754.03.30.70.311.3
Stefanie Dolson 3326.3.444.600.0003.72.70.01.06.3
Marine Johannès 3123.0.429.4001.0002.34.31.70.05.7
Han Xu 3010.0.4171.000.8332.70.30.00.75.3
Michaela Onyenwere 307.3.364.0001.0001.30.00.00.04.7
Rebecca Allen 3016.3.286.1671.0003.01.30.70.34.3
DiDi Richards 208.5.400.0001.0001.51.01.00.04.0
Sami Whitcomb 3014.7.364.429.0000.32.01.00.03.7
Jocelyn Willoughby 207.01.000.000.6670.50.00.00.03.0
Crystal Dangerfield 329.0.273.250.0000.30.30.00.02.3

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Sabrina Ionescu Eastern Conference Player of the Week June 13 [23]
July 8 [24]
August 8 [25]
August 15 [26]
WNBA All-Star Starter June 22 [27]
Eastern Conference Player of the Month - June July 5 [28]
Eastern Conference Player of the Month - August August 16 [29]
All-WNBA Second Team September 15 [30]
Natasha Howard WNBA All-Star Selection June 28 [31]

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References

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  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.
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  8. "Rachel Galligan Tweet 2". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
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  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.
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  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.
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