2022 New York Liberty season explained

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]

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

See also: 2022 WNBA draft.

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/team/country
15Nyara SaballyOregon
329Sika Koné

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

Depth

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

Schedule

Preseason

|- style="background:#ccc;"| 1| April 30| Washington| colspan=4 | Canceled| Barclays Center| 0–0

Regular Season

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| May 7| Connecticut| W 81–79| Sabrina Ionescu (25)| Natasha Howard (6)| Sabrina Ionescu (6)| Barclays Center
6,829| 1–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| May 11| @ Chicago| L 50–83| Han Xu (10)| Dolson
Ionescu (6)| Betnijah Laney (6)| Wintrust Arena
4,935| 1–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| May 13| Indiana| L 86–92 (OT)| Sabrina Ionescu (31)| Natasha Howard (9)| Sabrina Ionescu (7)| Barclays Center
3,289| 1–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 4| May 15| Dallas| L 71–81| Sabrina Ionescu (17)| Natasha Howard (8)| Sabrina Ionescu (6)| Barclays Center
3,095| 1–3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 5| May 17| Connecticut| L 65–92| Betnijah Laney (16)| Stefanie Dolson (7)| Sabrina Ionescu (4)| Barclays Center
3,054| 1–4|- style="background:#fcc;"| 6| May 24| @ Minnesota| L 78–84| Natasha Howard (23)| Sabrina Ionescu (9)| Sami Whitcomb (9)| Target Center
6,104| 1–5|- style="background:#fcc;"| 7| May 27| @ Seattle| L 71–79| Natasha Howard (19)| Natasha Howard (9)| Sami Whitcomb (8)| Climate Pledge Arena
10,001| 1–6|- style="background:#fcc;"| 8| May 29| @ Seattle| L 61–92| Han Xu (13)| Han Xu (8)| Sabrina Ionescu (4)| Climate Pledge Arena
10,228| 1–7|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 9| June 1| Indiana| W 87–74| Sabrina Ionescu (23)| Stefanie Dolson (8)| Stefanie Dolson (7)| Barclays Center
4,079| 2–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 10| June 3| @ Washington| W 74–70| Sabrina Ionescu (24)| Stefanie Dolson (8)| Crystal Dangerfield (4)| Entertainment and Sports Arena
3,857| 3–7|- style="background:#fcc;"| 11| June 5| Minnesota| L 77–84| Sabrina Ionescu (31)| Michaela Onyenwere (6)| Sabrina Ionescu (7)| Barclays Center
4,119| 3–8|- style="background:#cfc;"| 12| June 7| Minnesota| W 88–69| Sabrina Ionescu (26)| Sabrina Ionescu (8)| Sabrina Ionescu (8)| Barclays Center
3,196| 4–8|- style="background:#cfc;"| 13| June 10| @ Indiana| W 97–83| Natasha Howard (25)| Natasha Howard (10)| Sabrina Ionescu (7)| Indiana Farmers Coliseum
1,393| 5–8|- style="background:#fcc;"| 14| June 12| Chicago| L 86–88| Sabrina Ionescu (27)| Sabrina Ionescu (13)| Sabrina Ionescu (12)| Barclays Center
4,810| 5–9|- style="background:#cfc;"| 15| June 16| Washington| W 77–65| Natasha Howard (27)| Natasha Howard (9)| Sabrina Ionescu (9)| Barclays Center
4,168| 6–9|- style="background:#fcc;"| 16| June 19| Seattle| L 72–81| Marine Johannès (23)| Natasha Howard (11)| Sabrina Ionescu (10)| Barclays Center
6,859| 6–10|- style="background:#cfc;"| 17| June 22| @ Connecticut| W 81–77| Stefanie Dolson (16)| Sabrina Ionescu (11)| Sabrina Ionescu (6)| Mohegan Sun
4,652| 7–10|- style="background:#cfc;"| 18| June 24| @ Atlanta| W 89–77| Sabrina Ionescu (21)| Natasha Howard (10)| Sabrina Ionescu (8)| Gateway Center Arena
2,697| 8–10|- style="background:#fcc;"| 19| June 30| Atlanta| L 81–92 (OT)| Stefanie Dolson (20)| Sabrina Ionescu (13)| Sabrina Ionescu (7)| Barclays Center
6,161| 8–11|-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 20| July 3| @ Los Angeles| L 74–84| Marine Johannès (17)| Sabrina Ionescu (9)| Sabrina Ionescu (8)| Crypto.com Arena
5,436| 8–12|- style="background:#cfc;"| 21| July 6| @ Las Vegas| W 116–107| Sabrina Ionescu (31)| Sabrina Ionescu (13)| Sabrina Ionescu (10)| Michelob Ultra Arena
8,405| 9–12|- style="background:#fcc;"| 22| July 7| @ Phoenix| L 81–84| Sabrina Ionescu (22)| Sabrina Ionescu (10)| Marine Johannès (6)| Footprint Center
6,158| 9–13|- style="background:#fcc;"| 23| July 12| Las Vegas| L 101–107| Sabrina Ionescu (27)| Natasha Howard (11)| Ionescu
Johannès (5)| Barclays Center
5,201| 9–14|- style="background:#fcc;"| 24| July 14| Las Vegas| L 74–108| Natasha Howard (19)| Natasha Howard (9)| Sabrina Ionescu (6)| Barclays Center
9,896| 9–15|- style="background:#fcc;"| 25| July 19| @ Connecticut| L 63–82| Sabrina Ionescu (13)| Stefanie Dolson (6)| Sabrina Ionescu (4)| Mohegan Sun Arena
6,288| 9–16|- style="background:#fcc;"| 26| July 21| @ Washington| L 69–78| Natasha Howard (17)| Natasha Howard (10)| Crystal Dangerfield (5)| Capital One Arena
7,431| 9–17|- style="background:#cfc;"| 27| July 23| Chicago| W 83–80| Sabrina Ionescu (17)| Natasha Howard (10)| Sabrina Ionescu (9)| Barclays Center
6,926| 10–17|- style="background:#fcc;"| 28| July 29| @ Chicago| L 81–89| Sabrina Ionescu (16)| Natasha Howard (10)| Sabrina Ionescu (6)| Wintrust Arena
6,924| 10–18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 29| July 31| Phoenix| W 89–69| Natasha Howard (23)| Natasha Howard (12)| Sabrina Ionescu (16)| Barclays Center
6,433| 11–18|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 30| August 2| Los Angeles| W 102–73| Sabrina Ionescu (31)| Natasha Howard (11)| Han Xu (8)| Barclays Center
4,891| 12–18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 31| August 3| Los Angeles| W 64–61| Sabrina Ionescu (20)| Dolson
Ionescu (8)| Sabrina Ionescu (6)| Barclays Center
5,315| 13–18|- style="background:#fcc;"| 32| August 6| @ Phoenix| L 62–76| Sabrina Ionescu (20)| Stefanie Dolson (7)| Sabrina Ionescu (5)| Footprint Center
11,724| 13–19|- style="background:#fcc;"| 33| August 8| @ Dallas| L 77–86| Sabrina Ionescu (32)| Sabrina Ionescu (7)| Sabrina Ionescu (4)| College Park Center
3,036| 13–20|- style="background:#cfc;"| 34| August 10| @ Dallas| W 91–73| Sami Whitcomb (15)| Sabrina Ionescu (9)| Sabrina Ionescu (7)| College Park Center
3,795| 14–20|- style="background:#cfc;"| 35| August 12| @ Atlanta| W 80–70| Crystal Dangerfield (18)| Natasha Howard (12)| Dangerfield
Ionescu (6)| Gateway Center Arena
3,138| 15–20|- style="background:#cfc;"| 36| August 14| Atlanta| W 87–83| N. Howard
Johannes (18)| Stefanie Dolson (12)| Sabrina Ionescu (7)| Barclays Center
7,561| 16–20|-

Playoffs

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| August 17| @ Chicago| W 98–91| N. Howard
Ionescu (22)| Dolson
N. Howard
Ionescu (7)| Marine Johannès (7)| Wintrust Arena
7,524| 1–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| August 20| @ Chicago| L 62–100| Onyenwere
Xu (10)| Ionescu
Xu (5)| Dolson
Ionescu
Laney
Whitcomb (3)| Wintrust Arena
7,732| 1–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| August 23| Chicago| L 72–90| Betnijah Laney (15)| Natasha Howard (11)| Ionescu
Johannès (4)| Barclays Center
7,837| 1–2

Playoffs

See also: 2022 WNBA Playoffs.

Statistics

Regular Season

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 Dangerfield≠302722.1.395.323.7002.12.50.60.15.4
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 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 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

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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022 New York Liberty Schedule. Women's National Basketball Association. January 1, 2022.
  2. Web site: Voepel . Mechelle . Walt Hopkins out as New York Liberty coach after two years . ESPN.com . ESPN . January 1, 2022.
  3. Web site: New York Liberty Name Sandy Brondello as Head Coach . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA . January 7, 2022.
  4. Web site: Nyara Sabally Medical Update . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA . May 6, 2022.
  5. Web site: WNBA Transctions – Player Movement . acrossthetimeline.com . Across the Timeline . January 1, 2022.
  6. Web site: New York Liberty Name Sandy Brondello as Head Coach . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA . January 7, 2022.
  7. Web site: Rachel Galligan Tweet . twitter.com . Twitter . January 11, 2022.
  8. Web site: Rachel Galligan Tweet 2. twitter.com . Twitter . January 14, 2022.
  9. Web site: New York Liberty Sign 2021 WNBA Champion Stefanie Dolson. liberty.wnba.com . WNBA . February 5, 2022.
  10. Web site: NY Liberty Tweet . twitter.com . Twitter . February 10, 2022.
  11. Web site: NY Liberty Tweet 2 . twitter.com . Twitter . February 10, 2022.
  12. Web site: New York Liberty re-sign Rebecca Allen . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA . February 10, 2022.
  13. Web site: New York Liberty Finalize 2022 Coaching Staff . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA . March 17, 2022.
  14. Web site: New York Liberty Select Nyara Sabally, Lorela Cubaj and Sika Kone in 2022 WNBA Draft . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA . April 15, 2022.
  15. Web site: New York Liberty waive Paris Kea. Thank you @pariskea22 for your contributions on and off the court. . twitter.com . Twitter . April 28, 2022.
  16. Web site: 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 . May 6, 2022.
  17. Web site: 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 . May 24, 2022.
  18. Web site: Atlanta Dream Acquire AD in Trade with New York . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . 8 June 2022.
  19. Web site: Liberty Trade AD Durr to Dream for Raquel Carrera, Sign Marine Johannès . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA . 8 June 2022.
  20. Web site: Liberty Re-sign Crystal Dangerfield to Hardship Contract . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA . 9 June 2022.
  21. 1542900907205169153. nyliberty. Thank you, @LorelaCubaj for your hard work and dedication on and off the court.. New York Liberty.
  22. Web site: Liberty Re-sign Crystal Dangerfield to Rest-of-Season Contract . liberty.wnba.com . WNBA . July 3, 2022.
  23. WNBA. June 13, 2022. 1536396371053334528. We had some pretty memorable games from these two this week The WNBA Players of the Week are @breannastewart and @sabrina_i20 .
  24. nyliberty. July 8, 2022. 1545479165385793538 . And another one! @sabrina_i20 is the @wnbaEastern Conference Player of the Week! .
  25. WNBA. August 8, 2022. 1556702161626472450. Your #WNBA Week 12 Players of the Week ⬇ @Teaira_15 and @sabrina_i20 showed up and showed OUT last week for their squads .
  26. WNBA. August 15, 2022. 1559269283254919171. 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 .
  27. Web site: 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 . June 22, 2022.
  28. WNBA. July 5, 2022. 1544376613659234304. These two WENT OFF all June! @breannastewart & @sabrina_i20 are your Western and Eastern Conference @Kia #WNBA Players of the Month .
  29. WNBA. August 16, 2022. 1559608693473386497. They put the W on notice ALL MONTH LONG ‼ @Teaira_15 and @sabrina_i20 are your @KIA #WNBA Players of the Month #MoreThan.
  30. Kia WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson Leads 2022 All-WNBA First Team . WNBA . September 15, 2022 . September 17, 2022.
  31. Web site: Chicago Sky Trio of Kahleah Copper, Emma Meesseman, Courtney Vandersloot Highlight Reserves for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2022 . wnba.com . WNBA . July 1, 2022.

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