It seems like the majority of the free-agency mania has blown over…or dare I speak too soon. Assuming the bulk of the madness is behind us, let’s assess the New York Liberty as the team currently stands.
1. New Coaching
With the commencement of the 2022 season, the New York Liberty are welcoming new head coach, Sandy Brondello. As Head Coach of the Phoenix Mercury from 2014-2021, Brondello leaves behind an impressive track record in Phoenix. For one, the Mercury made the playoffs throughout Brondello’s tenure. But let us not forget: the Liberty are an entirely different beast from the Mercury. So the real question is, how quickly will Brondello be able to adapt to her new team and its needs?
Overall, the Liberty roster is more balanced than the Mercury’s: when it comes to Phoenix, the 2021 starting lineup’s core—meaning Diana Taurasi, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Brittney Griner—is strong…so strong that it would be nearly impossible to curate a bench of equal calibre. Similarly, the Liberty struggle with bench depth, though they lack the star-studded starters of 2021 (and 2022) Mercury. Betnijah Laney, Sabrina Ionescu, and Natasha Howard are the foundation of the Liberty roster, with an emerging Michaela Onyenwere close behind. Having a solid core is crucial, but the team needs to rely on those coming off the bench, too. How Brondello adapts to this very different group of players and skills could determine the fate of the Liberty season.
Official: The New York Liberty have named former WNBA player and coaching veteran Sandy Brondello as the franchise’s new head coach. Brondello is the ninth head coach in the organization’s 26-year history. pic.twitter.com/a4imRrSjWO
— Nets Republic (@NetsRepublic) January 7, 2022
2. Stefanie Dolson
Since signing a multi-year deal with the Liberty after entering free agency this post-season, Stefanie Dolson is saying goodbye to Chicago and heading to New York. As the only Liberty player truly suited to playing at the 5, Dolson can likely expect to be a consistent starter. Adding Dolson to the roster will allow well-sized forwards like Rebecca Allen and Kylee Shook to play to their strengths at the 3 or 4 instead of filling in as centers. But don’t get me wrong, Dolson’s mere presence alone as a center isn’t all she has to offer. Her defensive skillset is noteworthy. Paired with 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Howard, Dolson could transform the Liberty into a defensive stronghold. Either way, bringing “Big Mama Stef” to New York is an exciting move.
3. Goodbye Odom and Jones
Waiving Leaonna Odom and Jazmine Jones on February 4th was a controversial move that was not well-received by all in the Liberty fanbase. However, this move had more to do with cap-space than anything else, making it slightly more understandable. To make room to re-sign Rebecca Allen, the Liberty needed to clear some room on their roster…and clear room they did. Sadly, waving Jones and Odom means saying goodbye to potential young talent for the franchise.
Jazmine Jones would not have been my first choice of Liberty players to move on from.
— Justin Carter (@juscarts) February 4, 2022
Waving Odom and Jones leads one to believe that the Liberty has simply decided to channel its youth player development into Richards and Onyenwere. And with Allen becoming an increasingly more important part of the roster as the 2021 season advanced, it does make sense to retain her for the upcoming year. Nonetheless, letting go of two young players who likely didn’t get the chance to show New York what they’re all about before their time was up is a shame. Perhaps this goodbye is more a lesson in the difficulty of the WNBA’s tight roster space than anything else.
4. Health
If we are honest, the Liberty can’t get very far without a healthy roster. The dynamism between Laney and Ionescu is an offensive key to the Liberty’s success. The one catch here is that, shockingly, Laney and Ionescu need to both be on the floor. The same goes for Howard and Dolson regarding the defensive integrity of the Liberty. Without the Liberty’s core players, the roster isn’t deep enough to compensate. So, here’s hoping no pesky illnesses or injuries get in the way of a successful New York season.
5. Summed Up…
Put neatly, and if health isn’t an issue, and Brondello can mesh with her new team, things could be looking up for the Liberty. While this may not be the season for them to clinch a title (as awesome as that would be), the 2022 season has the potential to be a terrific season for development. After all, Onyenwere and Ionescu are young talent…and young talent takes time. So, be patient, Liberty fans; I’m right there with you.
Follow Beyond Women’s Sports for more from the WNBA. Emma Paidra is also on Twitter. Follow Emma @Blasphemma.
