Opportunity abounds for New York Liberty role players in title defense

New York’s depth is less solidified than last season, but it is by no means less important. Who will step up?

“We know this year might be harder than last year. But we’re ready to [face] that challenge.”

How a repeat championship could be any harder for the New York Liberty than the first in their 28-year existence, which required a bloody five-game triumph over the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals last season, is probably not something the franchise wants to find out. But if anybody is qualified or hungry enough to tackle an even bigger beast, it’s Rebekah Gardner.

Gardner, who the Liberty acuqired last March, spent the 2024 campaign cheering from the training table. General Manager Jonathan Kolb gave up two future second-rounders to get her, a booming statement of belief in a near-34-year-old just beginning rehab on a torn right achilles tendon.

“She has shown tremendous perseverance throughout her career, and in tandem with our talented performance staff, we are confident she will be positioned to have the best opportunity at a full recovery as we target the 2025 season for her return,” said Kolb at the time.

As for Gardner, she called the rehab process “the hardest the thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

Well, 2025 is here, and she is not just a feel-good story poised to smile in the background of champagne-soaked photos in October this time. With Betnijah Laney-Hamilton likely out for the season, Kayla Thornton now living across the country, and some key contributors set to compete in June’s EuroBasket, Gardner has a chance to play real minutes during the title defense.

“Now I get to contribute,” said the 6’1” guard. “I think that just by watching last year, it gave me time to think about how I will be able to do that.”

Unsurprisingly, the vet has a pretty good grasp on her upcoming role: “First of all, we have a lot of great passers and shooters, and I feel like I can create to find them, and then also defensively, I feel like that’s something that comes pretty easy to me … so every time I step on the floor, that’s my number one thing. Just to be disruptive and to create more possessions for the team.”

Garnder does sport a per-game average of 1.9 stocks (steals + blocks) along with 38.3% 3-point shooting in just 21 minutes a night. Surrounding Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones with that type of production is just what the Liberty need.

Newcomer Natasha Cloud and rising star Leonie Fiebich will start next to the big three, and while those two will certainly face challenges in new roles, bench minutes behind them are up for grabs.

Unlike Gardner, Nyara Sabally doesn’t have anything to prove to Liberty coaches and fans, not after her epic performance in Game 5 of the Finals last season…

After winning a title this spring in the Turkish League, Sabally just arrived in New York and is ramping up her participation in training camp after getting some much needed rest. She’ll likely start the season as New York’s sixth woman, a role Head Coach Sandy Brondello is confident she can contribute in if she just stays healthy.

“She feels good, and we’re excited to have her and continue to build her, because we think the sky is the limit for her.”

Elsewhere, fan-favorite Marine Johannès is back after a year away from the Liberty due to other overseas commitments, and the gym is buzzing about The Magician’s return, Brondello leading the charge.

“I think she’s a better player than what we saw two years ago as well. So, so excited about that, and how she adds another level to what we want to do.”

As in 2023, Johannès is likely the first guard off the bench for New York, and the early season will be spent figuring out who her best backcourt partner is. She and Cloud could complement each other’s strengths tremendously, given Cloud’s defensive reputation, while her and Gardner could do the same if Brondello prefers to keep Ionescu and Cloud joined at the hip.

It is also worth noting that the Ionescu-Johannès pairing had a +7.3 net rating in 2023, per PBP Stats, though the small sample size and poor opponent 3-point makes it a bit mucky.

Yet, Kennedy Burke could easily wind up being the most important reserve the New York Liberty have this year. Burke played in 38 regular-season games last year averaging just 12 ticks a night, but missed training camp and subsequently dealt with knee pain for much of the season.

By her own admission, 2025 is already off to a much different start…

Burke shot just 26% from three on limited volume last season, but if she can find a way to make herself offensively viable next to the Stewie/Jones front-court, New York can replicate the success they had last season with jumbo, switch-heavy lineups featuring Fiebich and Laney-Hamilton.

In this case Burke would be filling Laney-Hamilton’s spot, and while she’s unable to do much of what the former All-Star can, some improved 3-point shooting and continued dribble-drives/cutting could make her yet another switchy option for Brondello.

“I’m excited about KB,” said the head coach. “Look, she feels way more comfortable, and you see she’s so explosive on those first steps, it’s been pretty impressive for us. She’s improved her 3-point shooting. Look, I think year two on a team like this is easier than year one. She had to learn the whole system, and last year, she didn’t do a training camp, so she’s already ahead. You see how [much] more comfortable she is. She knows where she can pick her pockets, she’s versatile, so we’re going to lean into that and excited. You know, I think she’ll learn some good minutes.”

While Gardner, Sabally, Johannès, and Burke will likely get the bulk of reserve minutes for the Liberty, you can never have too much depth, particularly with EuroBasket this season (for which Fiebich, Sabally, and Johannès will likely depart).

Marquesha Davis and Jaylyn Sherrod are two sophomore guards looking for a leap, and Isabelle Harrison joins New York with seven seasons of WNBA experience already in her bag.

New York’s first chance to test out their depth in live-game action will come in their first preseason game on May 9, when they host the Connecticut Sun at Barclays Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.

• Marine Johannès arrives for first Liberty preseason – Madeline Kenney – New York Post
• Healthy Nyara Sabally out to finally fulfill potential as vital piece of Liberty title defense – Madeline Kenney – New York Post