2011 New York Liberty season

2011 New York Liberty season
CoachJohn Whisenant
ArenaPrudential Center
Attendance7,702 per game
Results
Record19–15 (.559)
Place4th (Eastern)
Playoff finishLost in Conference Semifinals
Team Leaders
PointsPondexter (17.4)
ReboundsVaughn (6.7)
AssistsPondexter (4.7)
Media
TelevisionMSG, MSG+
ESPN2, NBATV

The 2011 WNBA season is the 15th season for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Liberty played at Prudential Center in New Jersey from 2011 through 2013 during renovations at Madison Square Garden.

Transactions

WNBA draft

The following are the Liberty's selections in the 2011 WNBA draft.

Round Pick Player Nationality School/team/country
1 10 Alex Montgomery  United States Georgia Tech
2 22 Angel Robinson  United States Marquette
3 34 Mekia Valentine  United States UC Santa Barbara

Transaction log

  • March 14: The Liberty re-signed Sidney Spencer.
  • April 6: The Liberty signed Ewelina Kobryn to a training camp contract.
  • April 11: The Liberty traded draft rights to Angel Robinson and a second-round pick in the 2012 draft to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for draft rights to Jessica Breland.
  • April 11: The Liberty traded Kalana Greene to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for draft rights to Sydney Colson.
  • May 16: The Liberty signed Whitney Boddie and Crystal Kelly to training camp contracts.
  • May 27: The Liberty acquired Quanitra Hollingsworth from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for the right to swap third-round picks in the 2012 draft.
  • June 1: The Liberty waived Mekia Valentine, Whitney Boddie, Crystal Kelly, and Ewelina Kobryn.
  • July 4: The Liberty waived Jessica Breland and signed Felicia Chester.
  • July 21: The Liberty waived Felicia Chester.
  • July 28: The Liberty signed Ta'Shia Phillips.
  • August 4: The Liberty traded Sidney Spencer to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Kara Braxton.[1]

Trades

Date Trade
April 11, 2011 To New York Liberty To Minnesota Lynx
Jessica Breland Angel Robinson and a second-round pick in 2012 draft
April 11, 2011 To New York Liberty To Connecticut Sun
Sydney Colson Kalana Greene
May 27, 2011 To New York Liberty To Minnesota Lynx
Quanitra Hollingsworth right to swap third-round picks in 2012 draft
August 4, 2011 To New York Liberty To Phoenix Mercury
Kara Braxton Sidney Spencer

Personnel changes

Roster

2011 New York Liberty roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
F/C45United StatesBraxton, Kara6' 6" (1.98m)225 lb (102kg)1983-02-18Georgia6
G/F17United StatesCarson, Essence6' 0" (1.83m)165 lb (75kg)1986-07-28Rutgers3
G50United StatesColson, Sydney5' 8" (1.73m)140 lb (64kg)1989-08-06Texas A&MR
C9United StatesHollingsworth, Quanitra6' 5" (1.96m)200 lb (91kg)1988-11-15VCU2
PG5United StatesMitchell, Leilani5' 5" (1.65m)128 lb (58kg)1985-06-15Utah3
G/F22United StatesMontgomery, Alex6' 1" (1.85m)185 lb (84kg)1988-11-12Georgia TechR
C53United StatesPhillips, Ta'Shia6' 6" (1.98m)198 lb (90kg)1989-01-24XavierR
F/C33United StatesPierson, Plenette6' 2" (1.88m)180 lb (82kg)1981-08-31Texas Tech8
G23United StatesPondexter, Cappie5' 9" (1.75m)160 lb (73kg)1983-01-07Rutgers5
F14United StatesPowell, Nicole6' 2" (1.88m)170 lb (77kg)1982-06-22Stanford7
C15United StatesVaughn, Kia6' 4" (1.93m)198 lb (90kg)1987-01-24Rutgers2
Head coach
United States John Whisenant (New Mexico State)
Assistant coaches
United States Monique Ambers (Arizona State)
United States Lady Grooms (Georgia)
Athletic trainer
United States Lisa White (Stony Brook)
Strength and conditioning coach
United States Kevin Duffy (Ohio)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Depth

Pos. Starter Bench
C Kia Vaughn Quanitra Hollingsworth
PF Plenette Pierson Kara Braxton
Ta'Shia Phillips
SF Nicole Powell Alex Montgomery
SG Cappie Pondexter Essence Carson
PG Leilani Mitchell Sydney Colson

Season standings

Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Indiana Fever x 21 13 .618 – 13–4 8–9 13–9
Connecticut Sun x 21 13 .618 – 15–2 6–11 14–8
Atlanta Dream x 20 14 .588 1.0 11–6 9–8 14–8
New York Liberty x 19 15 .559 2.0 12-5 7–10 11–11
Chicago Sky o 14 20 .412 7.0 10–7 4–13 10–12
Washington Mystics o 6 28 .176 15.0 4–13 2–15 4–18

Schedule

Preseason

2011 Game Log: Preseason
Game Date Time (ET) Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
1 May 25 10:30am Washington 57–60 Vaughn (10) Powell (5) Powell (4) Prudential Center
6,472		 0–1
2 May 27 7:00pm China 79–65 N/A N/A N/A Times Union Center
N/A		 1–1

Regular season

2011 Game Log: Regular Season
June
Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
1 June 5 3:00pm @ Atlanta SSO 94–88 (OT) Pierson (25) Pierson (10) Pondexter (11) Philips Arena
8,038		 1–0
2 June 10 7:00pm @ Indiana 81–80 Pondexter (21) Vaughn (9) Powell (4) Conseco Fieldhouse
7,703		 2–0
3 June 11 7:00pm Indiana MSG 80–86 Carson (23) Pierson (6) Powell (5) Prudential Center
7,835		 2–1
4 June 14 7:00pm Atlanta 58–79 Carson (21) Carson (8) Powell (2) Prudential Center
5,725		 2–2
5 June 17 8:30pm @ Chicago CN100 73–85 Pondexter (20) Pondexter (8) Carson (5) Allstate Arena
5,718		 2–3
6 June 21 10:00pm @ Los Angeles ESPN2 91–96 Pondexter (22) Vaughn (12) Pondexter
Powell (6)		 Staples Center
10,389		 2–4
7 June 23 12:30pm @ Tulsa 94–82 Vaughn (24) Vaughn (12) Pondexter (10) BOK Center
4,682		 3–4
8 June 26 4:00pm Los Angeles 77–67 Pondexter (22) Vaughn (8) Pondexter (5) Prudential Center
7,625		 4–4
9 June 30 7:30pm @ Atlanta SSO 81–87 Pondexter (24) Pierson
Vaughn (7)		 Pondexter (6) Philips Arena
4,423		 4–5
July
Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
10 July 1 7:00pm San Antonio NBATV 81–75 Pondexter (19) Hollingsworth
Vaughn (7)		 Pondexter (5) Prudential Center
6,714		 5–5
11 July 8 8:00pm @ San Antonio NBATV 76–73 Pondexter (20) Pierson (10) Pondexter (7) AT&T Center
8,100		 6–5
12 July 10 4:00pm Chicago NBATV
MSG+
CN100		 80–73 Carson
Pondexter (18)		 Powell (8) Pondexter
Powell (4)		 Prudential Center
7,315		 7–5
13 July 13 12:00pm Atlanta 91–69 Powell (20) Powell (7) Carson
Mitchell
Pondexter (5)		 Prudential Center
14,314		 8–5
14 July 15 7:00pm Connecticut NBATV
CSN-NE		 59–68 Vaughn (15) Vaughn (9) Mitchell (4) Prudential Center
7,722		 8–6
15 July 17 4:00pm Tulsa NBATV
MSG+		 88–57 Pondexter (18) Vaughn (8) Mitchell
Pondexter
Powell (3)		 Prudential Center
6,735		 9–6
16 July 19 7:30pm @ Connecticut 79–85 Pierson (18) Powell (11) Pondexter (10) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,096		 9–7
All-Star break
17 July 28 7:00pm Washington MSG 75–71 Pondexter (19) Hollingsworth (7) Pierson
Pondexter (4)		 Prudential Center
6,808		 10–7
18 July 30 7:00pm Phoenix NBATV
MSG+		 84–91 Powell (16) Vaughn (10) Vaughn (4) Prudential Center
7,214		 10–8
August
Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
19 August 2 7:30pm @ Atlanta FS-S 85–75 Pierson (20) Pierson (8) Mitchell (6) Philips Arena
4,573		 11–8
20 August 4 12:00pm Chicago NBATV
MSG		 59–49 Pondexter (15) Powell (10) Carson
Pondexter (3)		 Prudential Center
10,133		 12–8
21 August 6 7:00pm @ Washington NBATV 81–91 Pondexter (21) Hollingsworth (7) Pondexter (7) Verizon Center
10,741		 12–9
22 August 9 8:00pm Seattle ESPN2 58–56 Pondexter (19) Pierson (8) Pondexter (5) Prudential Center
6,732		 13–9
23 August 12 7:00pm @ Washington 63–64 Mitchell (18) Hollingsworth (8) Mitchell (6) Verizon Center
10,092		 13–10
24 August 13 7:00pm @ Indiana NBATV 71–82 Pondexter (30) Pondexter (8) Pondexter (5) Conseco Fieldhouse
9,237		 13–11
25 August 16 7:00pm Washington 69–66 Pondexter (26) Vaughn (7) Powell (5) Prudential Center
6,223		 14–11
26 August 18 7:00pm Connecticut NBATV
MSG		 84–81 (OT) Pondexter (27) Vaughn (11) Pondexter (4) Prudential Center
7,245		 15–11
27 August 20 10:00pm @ Seattle 62–63 Pierson (15) Pondexter (6) Pondexter (6) KeyArena
7,139		 15–12
28 August 23 10:00pm @ Phoenix ESPN2 74–70 Pondexter (25) Pondexter (8) Pierson (5) US Airways Center
8,871		 16–12
29 August 28 6:00pm @ Chicago NBATV
CN100		 73–74 Pierson (19) Vaughn (8) Pondexter (8) Allstate Arena
5,707		 16–13
30 August 30 7:00pm Chicago MSG+
CN100		 71–67 Pondexter (19) Pierson (8) Pondexter
Powell (3)		 Prudential Center
6,334		 17–13
September
Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
31 September 2 8:00pm @ Minnesota 78–62 Mitchell (24) Hollingsworth (9) Pondexter (7) Target Center
8,929		 18–13
32 September 4 4:00pm Minnesota 68–86 Pierson (17) Pierson (8) Pondexter (7) Prudential Center
8,247		 18–14
33 September 9 7:00pm Indiana NBATV
MSG+		 83–75 Carson (18) Vaughn (9) Vaughn (5) Prudential Center
8,015		 19–14
34 September 11 1:00pm @ Connecticut NBATV 63–69 Powell (14) Pondexter
Vaughn (9)		 Pondexter (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
9,115		 19–15
All games are viewable on WNBA LiveAccess or ESPN3.com

Postseason

2011 Game Log: Postseason
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game Date Time (ET) Opponent TV Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series
1 September 15 8:00pm @ Indiana ESPN2 72–74 Pondexter (18) Powell (8) Pondexter (6) Conseco Fieldhouse
7,608		 0–1
2 September 17 4:00pm Indiana NBATV
MSG		 87-72 Powell (19) Pondexter
Powell
Vaughn (5)		 Pondexter (5) Prudential Center
8,508		 1–1
3 September 19 8:00pm @ Indiana ESPN2 62-72 Powell (19) Vaughn (7) Pondexter (5) Conseco Fieldhouse
7,368		 1–2

Statistics

Legend
  GP Games 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 game Team leader League leader

Regular season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kara Braxton 13 0 12.8 .397 .333 .400 3.0 0.8 0.38 0.46 3.9
Jessica Breland 9 0 7.7 .381 .000 1.000 1.6 0.4 0.20 0.70 2.0
Essence Carson 32 5 22.7 .437 .387 .738 2.8 1.7 1.19 0.63 11.3
Felicia Chester 4 0 6.8 .333 .000 .000 2.0 0.0 0.25 0.00 0.5
Sydney Colson 16 0 5.4 .350 .429 .833 0.4 0.6 0.25 0.13 1.4
Quanitra Hollingsworth 31 1 16.9 .524 .000 .679 4.4 0.3 0.52 0.32 4.6
Leilani Mitchell 34 30 25.4 .375 .364 .800 2.1 2.9 1.29 0.09 5.6
Alex Montgomery 30 0 9.0 .329 .444 .647 1.8 0.7 0.33 0.23 2.5
Ta'Shia Phillips 5 0 3.6 .500 .000 .500 0.6 0.2 0.00 0.00 0.6
Plenette Pierson 33 33 28.6 .478 .200 .806 5.2 1.4 1.15 0.91 12.9
Cappie Pondexter 34 34 33.9 .402 .345 .813 4.1 4.7 1.26 0.29 17.4
Nicole Powell 33 33 28.3 .410 .353 .906 4.2 2.3 1.36 0.30 9.7
Sidney Spencer 16 0 7.1 .500 .333 1.000 0.8 0.3 0.00 0.00 2.5
Kia Vaughn 34 34 28.1 .497 .000 .786 6.7 1.1 1.18 0.74 10.1

Postseason

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kara Braxton
Essence Carson
Sydney Colson
Quanitra Hollingsworth
Leilani Mitchell
Alex Montgomery
Ta'Shia Phillips
Plenette Pierson
Cappie Pondexter
Nicole Powell
Kia Vaughn

Awards and honors

References

  1. ^ "Libery acquire Kara Braxton from Mercury". NJ.com. August 5, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "Liberty's Kia Vaughn Receives Most Improved Award". CBS News. September 17, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2024.