2023 New York Liberty season
WNBA season
The 2023 New York Liberty season was the 27th season for the New York Liberty franchise of the WNBA , and their second season under head coach Sandy Brondello .
The Liberty entered the season with high expectations after trading for former MVP Jonquel Jones and signing last year's MVP Breanna Stewart as a free agent. They also signed Courtney Vandersloot , who lead the league in assists for six of the past seven seasons.[ 1] Washington , but would come back to win the rest of their May games to finish the month 3–1. They would start June splitting a back-to-back with Chicago , before winning two of their next three games. They would win four straight before losing the final game of the month to finish June 7–3. The Liberty started July with another four-game winning streak, only for it to be broken at home by Dallas . The Liberty went on another four-game winning streak before losing a make-up game to Minnesota . They would win the final game of the month to finish 9–2 in July. The team managed to extend the winning streak past four this time, as they won five straight to open August. During this streak, they secured a playoff berth on August 11. In their sixth game of the month, they defeated the Las Vegas Aces to win the Commissioner's Cup , which was the first trophy in franchise history.[ 2]
The Liberty finished the regular season 32–8 overall and were the second seed in the 2023 WNBA Playoffs . Their 32 wins were the most in the regular season in team history, bettering the 23 wins from 2015 . However, this was the first season the WNBA played a 40-game schedule. Their winning percentage of .800 was the best in franchise history, bettering the .676 mark, also from 2015.
As the second seed in the playoffs, New York faced off against the seventh seeded Washington Mystics, and New York hosted the first two games of the three-game series. The Mystics got off to a hot start in Game One, but the Liberty dominated the final three quarters and won the game 90–75. The Liberty lead Game Two by eleven at the half, but the Mystics stormed back and forced overtime. The Liberty won the overtime period and the game 90–86 to move on to the Semifinals. There, they faced off against the third seed Connecticut Sun . The Liberty lost Game One of the series 63–78. They responded in Game Two and overcame a first quarter deficit to win 84–77. In the pivotal Game Three in Connecticut, the Liberty rode a dominant first quarter to a 92–81 victory to advance to the 2023 WNBA Finals .
The Liberty faced a familiar foe in the finals, the Las Vegas Aces. The two teams squared off five times during the regular season, with the series finishing 2–2, but the Liberty taking the Commissioner's Cup. Game One of the series, was led by the Liberty by three at halftime, but the Aces dominated the second half to win 99–82. The Aces won Game Two 104–76 and left the Liberty needing to win three straight games to become WNBA Champions. The Liberty mounted a comeback in Game Three in New York and won 87–73. Game Four started well for the Liberty, they won the first quarter by ten points, but they could not hold on and lost the game 69–70. They lost the Finals one game to three, and finished runners-up.
After the season, the Liberty were fined $25,000 while Sabrina Ionescu , Betnijah Laney , and Jonquel Jones were each fined $2,000 for violating media policies.
Transactions
WNBA draft
Round
Pick
Player
Nationality
School/Team/Country
3
30
Okako Adika
United States
USC
Transactions
Date
Transaction
December 31, 2022
Renounced the rights to Kylee Shook and Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe
January 12, 2023
Extended Qualifying Offers to Crystal Dangerfield , Marine Johannès , and Han Xu [ 3]
January 16, 2023
Traded Rebecca Allen and the 6th Pick in the 2023 WNBA draft to the Connecticut Sun , and Natasha Howard and Crystal Dangerfield to the Dallas Wings , as part of a 3-Team Trade. The Liberty received Jonquel Jones from the Sun and Kayla Thornton from the Wings.[ 4]
February 8, 2023
Signed Breanna Stewart to a 1-Year Deal
Signed Courtney Vandersloot to a 2-Year Deal[ 5]
Signed Epiphanny Prince to a Training Camp Contract[ 6]
February 10, 2023
Signed Sika Koné to a Rookie Scale Contract[ 7]
February 11, 2023
Acquired the rights to Leonie Fiebich , a 2024 Second-Round Pick (from Chicago , and the right to swap 2025 First-Round Picks with Phoenix in a 4-Team Trade involving the Chicago Sky , Dallas Wings , and the Phoenix Mercury [ 8]
February 17, 2023
Signed Han Xu to the Qualifying Offer - Training Camp Contract
February 28, 2023
Signed Nyara Sabally to a Rookie Scale Contract[ 9]
March 2, 2023
Signed Marine Johannès to her Qualifying Offer[ 10]
March 21, 2023
Signed Morgan Green and Stephanie Mawuli to Training Camp Contracts[ 11]
May 14, 2023
Signed Sabrina Ionescu to Contract Extension[ 12]
May 16, 2023
Decline Team Option on Didi Richards
Waived Didi Richards , Morgan Green, Sika Koné , and Stephanie Mawuli [ 13] [ 14]
May 17, 2023
Waived Epiphanny Prince
May 18, 2023
Temporarily suspend the contract of Marine Johannès due to Overseas Commitments
May 19, 2023
Signed Epiphanny Prince to a Hardship Contract[ 15]
May 24, 2023
Released Epiphanny Prince from the Hardship Contract
May 30, 2023
Activated Marine Johannès
June 13, 2023
Temporarily suspend the contract of Han Xu due to Overseas Commitments
June 17, 2023
Signed Epiphanny Prince to a Hardship Contract[ 16]
June 20, 2023
Released Epiphanny Prince from the Hardship Contract
June 25, 2023
Signed Epiphanny Prince to a Hardship Contract[ 17]
July 5, 2023
Activated the temporarily suspended contract of Han Xu due to Overseas Commitments
July 16, 2023
Temporarily suspend the contract of Han Xu due to Overseas Commitments
August 10, 2023
Released Epiphanny Prince from the Hardship Contract
August 12, 2023
Activated the temporarily suspended contract of Han Xu due to Overseas Commitments
August 31, 2023
Signed Kayla Thornton to a Contract Extension[ 18]
September 9, 2023
Signed Betnijah Laney to a Contract Extension[ 19]
September 10, 2023
Temporarily suspend the contract of Han Xu due to Overseas Commitments
Roster changes
Roster
2023 New York Liberty roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Nat.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB From
Yrs
C 31
Dolson, Stefanie
6' 5" (1.96m)
235 lb (107kg)
1992-01-08
Connecticut
9
G 20
Ionescu, Sabrina
5' 11" (1.8m)
165 lb (75kg)
1997-12-06
Oregon
3
G 23
Johannès, Marine
5' 10" (1.78m)
134 lb (61kg)
01-21-1995
France
2
F/C 35
Jones, Jonquel
6' 6" (1.98m)
215 lb (98kg)
1994-01-05
George Washington
6
G/F 44
Laney, Betnijah
6' 0" (1.83m)
166 lb (75kg)
1993-10-29
Rutgers
7
F 8
Sabally, Nyara
6' 5" (1.96m)
204 lb (93kg)
2000-02-26
Oregon
1
F 30
Stewart, Breanna
6' 4" (1.93m)
170 lb (77kg)
1994-08-27
Connecticut
6
F 5
Thornton, Kayla
6' 1" (1.85m)
188 lb (85kg)
1992-10-20
UTEP
7
G 22
Vandersloot, Courtney
5' 8" (1.73m)
137 lb (62kg)
1989-02-08
Gonzaga
12
G/F 13
Willoughby, Jocelyn
6' 0" (1.83m)
180 lb (82kg)
1998-03-25
Virginia
2
C 21
Xu, Han
6' 10" (2.08m)
193 lb (88kg)
10-31-1999
China
2
Head coach
Sandy Brondello (Western Sydney )Assistant coaches
Roneeka Hodges (Florida State )Zach O'Brien (Saint Joseph's College of Maine)Athletic trainer
Strength and conditioning coach
Legend (C) Team captain(FA) Free agent(IN) Inactive(S) Suspended
Depth
Schedule
Preseason
Regular Season
2023 game log
May: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–1)
June
: 7–3 (Home: 3–2; Road: 4–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
5
June 2
@ Chicago
W 77–76
Breanna Stewart (19)
Breanna Stewart (11)
Courtney Vandersloot (8)
Wintrust Arena 4–1
6
June 4
Chicago
L 82–86
Breanna Stewart (20)
Breanna Stewart (11)
Courtney Vandersloot (10)
Barclays Center 4–2
7
June 7
Minnesota
Postponed until July 28 due to poor air quality [ 20] Barclays Center
8
June 9
@ Atlanta
W 106–83
Sabrina Ionescu (37)
Breanna Stewart (9)
Courtney Vandersloot (11)
Gateway Center Arena 5–2
9
June 11
Dallas
W 102–93
Breanna Stewart (32)
Breanna Stewart (9)
Courtney Vandersloot (10)
Barclays Center 6–2
10
June 13
Atlanta
L 79–86
Marine Johannès (18)
Breanna Stewart (13)
Stewart Vandersloot (6)
Barclays Center 6–3
11
June 18
Phoenix
W 89–71
Breanna Stewart (28)
Breanna Stewart (14)
Breanna Stewart (7)
Barclays Center 7–3
12
June 23
@ Atlanta
W 110–80
Betnijah Laney (19)
Breanna Stewart (11)
Courtney Vandersloot (11)
Gateway Center Arena 8–3
13
June 25
Washington
W 89–88 (OT)
Sabrina Ionescu (31)
Jonquel Jones (10)
Ionescu Vandersloot (6)
Barclays Center 9–3
14
June 27
@ Connecticut
W 89–81
Breanna Stewart (24)
Jonquel Jones (11)
Courtney Vandersloot (9)
Mohegan Sun Arena 10–3
15
June 29
@ Las Vegas
L 81–98
Breanna Stewart (16)
Ionescu Jones (6)
Sabrina Ionescu (7)
Michelob Ultra Arena 10–4
July
: 9–2 (Home: 5–2; Road: 4–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
16
July 2
@ Seattle
W 81–66
Breanna Stewart (20)
Breanna Stewart (8)
Courtney Vandersloot (13)
Climate Pledge Arena 11–4
17
July 5
Phoenix
W 99–95
Breanna Stewart (43)
Breanna Stewart (12)
Sabrina Ionescu (9)
Barclays Center 12–4
18
July 8
Seattle
W 80–76
Breanna Stewart (25)
Breanna Stewart (8)
Sabrina Ionescu (8)
Barclays Center 13–4
19
July 12
@ Indiana
W 95–87 (OT)
Sabrina Ionescu (34)
Breanna Stewart (10)
Courtney Vandersloot (12)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 14–4
20
July 19
Dallas
L 88–98
Breanna Stewart (25)
Jonquel Jones (9)
Courtney Vandersloot (7)
Barclays Center 14–5
21
July 21
@ Washington
W 96–87
Jonquel Jones (27)
Ionescu Jones (11)
Sabrina Ionescu (9)
Entertainment and Sports Arena 15–5
22
July 23
Indiana
W 101–83
Betnijah Laney (22)
Jonquel Jones (11)
Courtney Vandersloot (10)
Barclays Center 16–5
23
July 25
Seattle
W 86–82
Breanna Stewart (22)
Jonquel Jones (17)
Sabrina Ionescu (12)
Barclays Center 17–5
24
July 27
Atlanta
W 95–84
Breanna Stewart (33)
Jonquel Jones (13)
Sabrina Ionescu (9)
Barclays Center 18–5
7
July 28
Minnesota
L 83–88
Breanna Stewart (23)
Jonquel Jones (11)
Sabrina Ionescu (7)
Barclays Center 18–6
25
July 30
@ Los Angeles
W 87–79
Breanna Stewart (25)
Jonquel Jones (13)
Courtney Vandersloot (9)
Crypto.com Arena 19–6
August
: 9–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 6–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
26
August 1
@ Los Angeles
W 76–69
Courtney Vandersloot (23)
Breanna Stewart (12)
Courtney Vandersloot (6)
Crypto.com Arena 20–6
27
August 4
@ Minnesota
W 76–66
Sabrina Ionescu (18)
Jonquel Jones (17)
Courtney Vandersloot (7)
Target Center 21–6
28
August 6
Las Vegas
W 99–61
Sabrina Ionescu (31)
Jonquel Jones (14)
Sabrina Ionescu (7)
Barclays Center 22–6
29
August 11
Chicago
W 89–73
Breanna Stewart (21)
Breanna Stewart (12)
Sabrina Ionescu (8)
Barclays Center 23–6
30
August 13
@ Indiana
W 100–89
Breanna Stewart (42)
Jonquel Jones (12)
Courtney Vandersloot (14)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse 24–6
Commissioner's Cup Final
August 15
@ Las Vegas
W 82–63
Marine Johannès (17)
Jonquel Jones (15)
Courtney Vandersloot (10)
Michelob Ultra Arena —
31
August 17
@ Las Vegas
L 75–88
Sabrina Ionescu (22)
Jonquel Jones (8)
Courtney Vandersloot (7)
Michelob Ultra Arena 24–7
32
August 18
@ Phoenix
W 85–63
Betnijah Laney (22)
Breanna Stewart (8)
Courtney Vandersloot (8)
Footprint Center 25–7
33
August 24
@ Connecticut
W 95–90 (OT)
Breanna Stewart (24)
Jonquel Jones (14)
Courtney Vandersloot (8)
Mohegan Sun Arena 26–7
34
August 26
@ Minnesota
W 111–76
Breanna Stewart (38)
Breanna Stewart (11)
Courtney Vandersloot (9)
Target Center 27–7
35
August 28
Las Vegas
W 94–85
Sabrina Ionescu (25)
Breanna Stewart (12)
Courtney Vandersloot (10)
Barclays Center 28–7
September
: 4–1 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–0)
2023 season schedule
Playoffs
2023 playoff game log
First round vs. Washington
Semifinals vs. Connecticut Sun
Finals vs. Las Vegas Aces
2023 playoff schedule
Standings
Notes
(#) x – Clinched playoff berthe – Eliminated from postseason contentionSource: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings
Playoffs
Bold Series winner
Statistics
Regular Season
‡ Waived/Released during the season
† Traded during the season
≠ Acquired during the season
Playoffs
Awards and honors
References
^ Frimpong, Fiifi (May 18, 2023). "2023 Season Preview: Liberty set to shatter win record in chase for franchise's 1st WNBA title" . New York Daily News . Retrieved October 22, 2023 . ^ Vanoni, Maggie (October 21, 2023). "UConn women's basketball great Breanna Stewart reflects on first season with NY Liberty: 'Special' . ctinsider.com . CT Insider. Retrieved October 22, 2023 . ^ @nyliberty (January 12, 2023). "Qualifying Offers have been sent🗽" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ "New York Liberty Acquire Frontcourt Duo of Jonquel Jones and Kayla Thornton in Three-Team Deal" . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved January 17, 2023 .^ "New York Liberty Land Historic Duo of Breanna Stewart & Courtney Vandersloot in Free Agency" . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved February 12, 2023 .^ "New York Liberty Sign Brooklyn Legend Epiphanny Prince To Training Camp Contract" . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved February 12, 2023 .^ "New York Liberty Sign Sika Koné" . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved February 12, 2023 .^ "Chicago Sky Acquires Marina Mabrey in Four-Team Trade" . sky.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved February 12, 2023 .^ "New York Liberty Sign 2022 First Rounder Nyara Sabally" . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved March 9, 2023 .^ @nyliberty (March 2, 2023). "The moment y'all have been waiting for 🤩 Liberty guard @marinej5 has accepted her qualifying offer and re-signed with New York. Welcome back, MJ!!! 🗽" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ "New York Liberty Add Morgan Green and Stephanie Mawuli To Training Camp Roster" . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved March 23, 2023 .^ @nyliberty (May 14, 2023). "Multi-Year Extension ✅ The New York Liberty has signed All-Star guard, @sabrina_i20, to an extension through the 2025 season.🗽" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ @ClassicJpow (May 16, 2023). "League sources tell @TheNextHoops that the New York Liberty have just waived DiDi Richards. Richards was the Liberty's 2021 17th overall draft pick and instantly became a fan favorite" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ @nyliberty (May 16, 2023). "Roster Update: The NY Liberty have waived Morgan Green, Sika Koné, and Stephanie Mawuli" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ @nyliberty (May 19, 2023). "The Liberty has re-signed guard Epiphanny Prince to a hardship contract.🗽" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ @nyliberty (June 17, 2023). "The NY Liberty has re-signed guard Epiphanny Prince to a hardship contract.🗽" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ @nyliberty (June 25, 2023). "The NY Liberty has re-signed guard Epiphanny Prince to a hardship contract. 🗽" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ @nyliberty (August 31, 2023). "The NYL has signed Kayla Thornton to a multi-year extension through the 2025 szn. ✅" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ @nyliberty (September 9, 2023). "The NYL have signed @BetnijahLaney to a multi-year extension through the 25 szn. ✅" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ "MLB, WNBA postpone games due to smoke from Canadian wildfires" . ESPN . Retrieved June 7, 2023 .^ @WNBA (May 30, 2023). "🏀 Week 1 Players of the Week 🏀 Eastern Conference: @breannastewart @nyliberty 26 PPG, 10 RPG, 3 SPG 2-1 record during the week Western Conference: @Arike_O @DallasWings 26.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.3 APG 2-1 record during the week #MoreThanGame" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ @WNBA (June 13, 2023). "🏀 Week 3 Players of the Week 🏀 Eastern Conference: @breannastewart @nyliberty 28.5 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.5 BPG 2-0 Western Conference: @satou_sabally @dallaswings 19.3 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 1.3 SPG 2-1 #MoreThanGame" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ "Breanna Stewart Earns Third Eastern Conference Player of the Week Honor" . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA . July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023 .^ "Breanna Stewart named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for fourth time" . yesnetwork.com . YES Network . August 1, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023 .^ "Breanna Stewart Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for Fifth Time in 2023" . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA . August 15, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023 .^ "Lynx Forward Napheesa Collier Named Western Conference Player of the Week" . lynx.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved September 10, 2023 .^ "Breanna Stewart Named KIA WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for May" . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved June 19, 2023 .^ M.A. Voepel (June 25, 2023). "Brittney Griner, Aliyah Boston named WNBA All-Star starters" . ESPN . Retrieved June 23, 2023 .^ Kennedy, Alex (August 2, 2023). "Breanna Stewart, A'ja Wilson are WNBA Players of the Month for July" . basketballnews.com . BasketballNews.com. Retrieved August 2, 2023 . ^ Bromberg, Lila (September 6, 2023). "Former UConn star Breanna Stewart named breaks single-season scoring record, WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month" . Hartford Courant . Retrieved September 6, 2023 . ^ @WNBA (September 22, 2023). "Your 2023 WNBA All-Defensive First Team ⬇️ @_ajawilson22 @athomas_25 @BrittBundlez @breannastewart @jordin_canada #MoreThanGame" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ "New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart Wins 2023 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player Award" (Press release). WNBA. September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023 .^ a b "Kia WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart, Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year A'ja Wilson and Record-Setting Alyssa Thomas Headline 2023 All-WNBA First Team" . wnba.com (Press release). WNBA. October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023 .^ a b "Connecticut Sun's Alyssa Thomas, Washington Mystics' Elena Delle Donne Highlight Reserves For 2023 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game" . wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved July 1, 2023 .^ "Courtney Vandersloot Earns Seventh Career WNBA Peak Performer Award in Assists" . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA . September 11, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023 .^ "Jonquel Jones Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week" . oursportscentral.com . WNBA . July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023 .^ "Sandy Brondello Named WNBA Coach of the Month for August" . oursportscenrtal.com . WNBA . September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023 .^ "New York Liberty's Jonathan Kolb Named 2023 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year" (Press release). WNBA. September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023 .^ @WNBA (September 22, 2023). "Your 2023 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team ⬇️ @BetnijahLaney @ezimagbegor @nnekaogwumike @PHEEsespieces @E_Williams_1 #MoreThanGame" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
External links
Franchise Arenas Head coaches Administration WNBA All-Stars Seasons Playoff appearances Conference Championships / WNBA Championships Rivals Media
