# 2021 New York Liberty season

The 2021 New York Liberty season was the 25th season for the New York Liberty franchise of the WNBA. The Liberty opened the regular season on May 14, 2021 versus the Indiana Fever.
The Liberty started the season strong by winning their first three games and only losing two of their seven games in May. However, June turned into a much worse month for the team as wins were book-ended by two losses. The team finished 3–7 in June. Things looked to be turning around in July as the Liberty won their first two games, but they lost their last two games of the month to take a 10–11 overall record into the Olympic break. The post-Olympic break stretch of the season proved difficult for the Liberty. They won their second game out of the break after losing their first, but then went on an eight game losing streak that stretched into September. Going into the last game of the season, the Liberty were part of a three way tie for the eighth, and final playoff seed. The Liberty defeated Washington and Los Angeles lost their final game, so the Liberty won the tiebreaker and qualified for the playoffs as the eighth seed with a final record of 12–20.
As the eighth seed, the Liberty played the fifth seeded Phoenix Mercury in Phoenix in the First Round. The game was more competitive than many expected and it came down to the wire. However, the Liberty were edged out 82–83 and their season came to an end.

## Transactions
### WNBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | School/Team/Country |
| 1 | 6 | Michaela Onyenwere | United States | UCLA |
| 2 | 17 | DiDi Richards | United States | Baylor |
| 3 | 25 | Valerie Higgins | United States | Pacific |
| 3 | 29 | Marine Fauthoux | France | ASVEL Féminin (France) |

### Trades/Roster Changes

| Date | Details |
| September 13, 2020 | Signed C Kiah Stokes to a Contract Extension |
| January 2, 2021 | Extended Qualifying Offers to F Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, G Paris Kea, and F Joyner Holmes |
| January 3, 2021 | Exercised Team Options on G Asia Durr and C Han Xu |
| February 2, 2021 | Signed G/F Betnijah Laney |
| February 2, 2021 | Signed F Joyner Holmes to a Training Camp Contract |
| February 10, 2021 | Traded G Kia Nurse and F Megan Walker to Phoenix in exchange for the 6th Overall Pick in the 2021 Draft and the Mercury's 1st Round Pick in 2022. |
| February 10, 2021 | Traded the 1st Overall Pick in the 2021 Draft, a 2nd Round Pick in 2022 (via trade with Phoenix), and New York's own 2022 2nd Round Pick to Seattle in exchange for F Natasha Howard |
| February 10, 2021 | Traded the rights to F Stephanie Talbot to Seattle in exchange for G Sami Whitcomb |
| April 14, 2021 | Signed F Asia Taylor to a Training Camp Contract |
| April 16, 2021 | Full Season Suspend C Han Xu due to Overseas Commitments |
| April 19, 2021 | Signed F Michaela Onyenwere, G Valerie Higgins, and G DiDi Richards to Rookie Scale Contracts |
| April 24, 2021 | Signed F Janelle Bailey to a Rookie Scale Contract |
| April 26, 2021 | Hired Jacki Gemelos as an Assistant Coach |
| April 26, 2021 | Signed G Rebecca Allen |
| May 7, 2021 | Waived F Janelle Bailey |
| May 11, 2021 | Waived G Valerie Higgins |
| May 12, 2021 | Temporarily Suspend G Rebecca Allen, F Natasha Howard, and C Kiah Stokes due to Overseas Commitments |
| May 12, 2021 | Full Season Suspend G Asia Durr |
| May 12, 2021 | Waive F Joyner Holmes |
| May 13, 2021 | Waive F Asia Taylor and G Jasmine Bailey |
| May 13, 2021 | Full Season Suspend G Marine Johannès due to Overseas Commitments |
| May 14, 2021 | Signed F Reshanda Gray to a Hardship Contract |
| May 14, 2021 | Signed F Joyner Holmes to a Hardship Contract |
| May 15, 2021 | Activate G Rebecca Allen from Temporary Suspension List |
| May 15, 2021 | Released F Joyner Holmes from the Hardship Contract |
| May 18, 2021 | Activate C Kiah Stokes from Temporary Suspension List |
| May 18, 2021 | Released F Reshanda Gray from the Hardship Contract |
| May 20, 2021 | Waived G Layshia Clarendon |
| May 22, 2021 | Activate F Natasha Howard from Temporary Suspension List |
| June 6, 2021 | Suspend C Kiah Stokes due to Overseas Commitments |
| June 7, 2021 | Signed F Reshanda Gray to a Hardship Contract |
| June 22, 2021 | Release F Reshanda Gray to a Hardship Contract |
| June 22, 2021 | Activate C Kiah Stokes from Temporary Suspension |
| June 30, 2021 | Waived C Kiah Stokes |
| July 1, 2021 | Signed F Reshanda Gray |

## Game log
### Preseason

2021 pre-season game log :
May: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
May 3
@ Connecticut
Scrimmage
Mohegan Sun Arena 0
0–0
2
May 11
Dallas
Scrimmage
Barclays Center
0–0 :
2021 pre-season schedule :

### Regular season

2021 game log Total: 12–20 (Home: 7–9; Road: 5–11) :
May: 5–2 (Home: 3–1; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
May 14
Indiana
W 90–87
Betnijah Laney (30)
Sabrina Ionescu (6)
Sabrina Ionescu (11)
Barclays Center 1,139
1–0
2
May 16
@ Indiana
W 73-65
Betnijah Laney (20)
Kylee Shook (7)
Laney Whitcomb Ionescu (4)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse No Fans
2–0
3
May 18
Minnesota
W 86–75
Sabrina Ionescu (26)
Sabrina Ionescu (10)
Sabrina Ionescu (12)
Barclays Center 815
3–0
4
May 21
@ Washington
L 72–101
Betnijah Laney (20)
Sami Whitcomb (7)
Ionescu Laney (5)
Entertainment and Sports Arena No Fans
3–1
5
May 23
@ Chicago
W 93–85
Betnijah Laney (20)
Natasha Howard (7)
Sabrina Ionescu (12)
Wintrust Arena 1,332
4–1
6
May 24
Dallas
W 88–81
Betnijah Laney (26)
Sabrina Ionescu (9)
DiDi Richards (5)
Barclays Center 894
5–1
7
May 29
Atlanta
L 87–90
Michaela Onyenwere (29)
Laney Stokes (6)
Betnijah Laney (11)
Barclays Center 1,235
5–2 :
June
: 3–7 (Home: 0–3; Road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
8
June 3
Las Vegas
L 82–94
Betnijah Laney (23)
Kiah Stokes (13)
Sabrina Ionescu (9)
Barclays Center 1,389
5–3
9
June 5
@ Connecticut
L 64–85
Rebecca Allen (14)
Sami Whitcomb (5)
Betnijah Laney (6)
Mohegan Sun Arena 2,118
5–4
10
June 13
@ Phoenix
W 85–83
Betnijah Laney (23)
Jones Laney (7)
Betnijah Laney (10)
Phoenix Suns Arena 4,476
6–4
11
June 15
@ Las Vegas
L 78–100
Jazmine Jones (17)
Kylee Shook (9)
Betnijah Laney (6)
Michelob Ultra Arena 2,115
6–5
12
June 17
@ Las Vegas
L 76–103
Betnijah Laney (20)
Sami Whitcomb (6)
Sami Whitcomb (5)
Michelob Ultra Arena No Fans
6–6
13
June 20
@ Los Angeles
W 76–73
Rebecca Allen (19)
Sami Whitcomb (9)
Betnijah Laney (5)
Los Angeles Convention Center 731
7–6
14
June 22
Chicago
L 72–92
Betnijah Laney (18)
Sabrina Ionescu (8)
Sabrina Ionescu (7)
Barclays Center 1,419
7–7
15
June 24
Chicago
L 68–91
Michaela Onyenwere (16)
Kylee Shook (11)
Sabrina Ionescu (5)
Barclays Center 2,148
7–8
16
June 26
@ Atlanta
W 101–78
Sami Whitcomb (30)
Kylee Shook (11)
Sabrina Ionescu (8)
Gateway Center Arena 1,605
8–8
17
June 29
@ Atlanta
L 69–73
Betnijah Laney (16)
Kylee Shook (8)
Betnijah Laney (7)
Gateway Center Arena 1,131
8–9 :
July
: 2–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
18
July 3
Washington
W 82–79
Betnijah Laney (19)
Sami Whitcomb (9)
Sabrina Ionescu (5)
Barclays Center 1,615
9–9
19
July 5
Dallas
W 99–96
Sami Whitcomb (26)
Kylee Shook (8)
Sabrina Ionescu (12)
Barclays Center 1,677
10–9
20
July 9
@ Indiana
L 69–82
Betnijah Laney (23)
Betnijah Laney (8)
Ionescu Laney Shook (4)
Indiana Farmers Coliseum No Fans
10–10
21
July 11
Connecticut
L 54–71
Kylee Shook (16)
Ionescu Whitcomb (7)
Ionescu Richards Whitcomb (3)
Barclays Center
10–11 :
August
: 1–6 (Home: 1–4; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
22
August 15
@ Minnesota
L 78–88
Natasha Howard (30)
Sabrina Ionescu (7)
Sabrina Ionescu (6)
Target Center 3,534
10–12
23
August 18
Seattle
W 83–79
Allen Laney (17)
Ionescu Laney (7)
Betnijah Laney (8)
Barclays Center 2,103
11–12
24
August 20
Seattle
L 83–99
Sami Whitcomb (26)
Natasha Howard (13)
Sami Whitcomb (8)
Barclays Center 3,889
11–13
25
August 22
Los Angeles
L 83–86
Howard Whitcomb (17)
Natasha Howard (11)
Betnijah Laney (9)
Barclays Center N/A
11–14
26
August 25
Phoenix
L 79–106
Betnijah Laney (20)
Allen Laney (8)
Sabrina Ionescu (7)
Barclays Center 1,872
11–15
27
August 27
Phoenix
L 64–80
Natasha Howard (18)
Sabrina Ionescu (10)
Sabrina Ionescu (9)
Barclays Center 2,315
11–16
28
August 31
@ Minnesota
L 66–74
Ionescu Laney (17)
Michaela Onyenwere (10)
Sabrina Ionescu (6)
Target Center 3,221
11–17 :
September
: 1–3 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
29
September 2
@ Seattle
L 75–85
Sabrina Ionescu (20)
Betnijah Laney (7)
Sabrina Ionescu (7)
Angel of the Winds Arena 3,592
11–18
30
September 11
@ Dallas
L 76–77
Betnijah Laney (19)
Natasha Howard (11)
Ionescu Laney (6)
College Park Center 2,888
11–19
31
September 15
@ Connecticut
L 69–98
Natasha Howard (25)
Natasha Howard (8)
Sabrina Ionescu (5)
Mohegan Sun Arena 4,012
11–20
32
September 17
Washington
W 91–80
Natasha Howard (24)
Natasha Howard (10)
Betnijah Laney (11)
Barclays Center 3,615
12–20 :
2021 season schedule :

### Playoffs

2021 playoff game log Total: 0–1 :
First round
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
September 23
@ Phoenix
82–83
Betnijah Laney (25)
Natasha Howard (10)
Sabrina Ionescu (11)
Grand Canyon University Arena 5,827
0–1 :
2021 playoff schedule :

## Standings

| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Conf. | Home | Road | Cup |
| 1 | x – Connecticut Sun | 26 | 6 | .813 | – | 12–3 | 15–1 | 11–5 | 9–1 |
| 2 | x – Las Vegas Aces | 24 | 8 | .750 | 2 | 11–4 | 13–3 | 11–5 | 6–4 |
| 3 | x – Minnesota Lynx | 22 | 10 | .688 | 4 | 10–5 | 13–3 | 9–7 | 7–3 |
| 4 | x – Seattle Storm | 21 | 11 | .656 | 5 | 9–6 | 11–5 | 10–6 | 8–2 |
| 5 | x – Phoenix Mercury | 19 | 13 | .594 | 7 | 6–9 | 7–9 | 12–4 | 5–5 |
| 6 | x – Chicago Sky | 16 | 16 | .500 | 10 | 10–5 | 6–10 | 10–6 | 6–4 |
| 7 | x – Dallas Wings | 14 | 18 | .438 | 12 | 7–8 | 7–9 | 7–9 | 3–7 |
| 8 | x – New York Liberty | 12 | 20 | .375 | 14 | 6–9 | 7–9 | 5–11 | 5–5 |
| 9 | e – Washington Mystics | 12 | 20 | .375 | 14 | 7–8 | 8–8 | 4–12 | 4–6 |
| 10 | e – Los Angeles Sparks | 12 | 20 | .375 | 14 | 2–13 | 8–8 | 4–12 | 1–9 |
| 11 | e – Atlanta Dream | 8 | 24 | .250 | 18 | 6–9 | 4–12 | 4–12 | 4–6 |
| 12 | e – Indiana Fever | 6 | 26 | .188 | 20 | 4–11 | 4–12 | 2–14 | 2–8 |
* v
* t
* e
Notes
    (#) – League Standing
    x – Clinched playoff berth
    e – Eliminated from playoff contention
    Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

## Playoffs

| First round Single elimination Sept. 23 | First round Single elimination Sept. 23 | First round Single elimination Sept. 23 | Second round Single elimination Sept. 26 | Second round Single elimination Sept. 26 | Second round Single elimination Sept. 26 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Las Vegas Aces | 96 | 91 | 60 | 93 | 84 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Seattle Storm | 80 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 90 | 117 | 87 | 76 | 87 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 83 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 85$^{OT}$ | | | | | | | | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 77 | 91$^{OT}$ | 50 | 74 | – |
| 8 | New York Liberty | 82 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Chicago Sky | 91 | 86 | 86 | 80 | – |
| | | | | | | 1 | Connecticut Sun | 95 | 79 | 83 | 69 | – | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Minnesota Lynx | 76 | 6 | Chicago Sky | 101$^{2OT}$ | 68 | 86 | 79 | – | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Chicago Sky | 81 | 6 | Chicago Sky | 89 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Dallas Wings | 64 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

## Awards and honors

| Recipient | Award | Date awarded |
| Sabrina Ionescu | Eastern Conference Player of the Week | May 24 |
| Betnijah Laney | Eastern Conference Player of the Week | June 1 |
| Michaela Onyenwere | WNBA Rookie of the Month - May | June 2 |
| Walt Hopkins | WNBA Coach of the Month - May | June 2 |
| Michaela Onyenwere | WNBA Rookie of the Month - June | July 1 |
| Betnijah Laney | WNBA All-Star Selection | June 30 |
| Michaela Onyenwere | WNBA Rookie of the Month - August | September 2 |
| Natasha Howard | Eastern Conference Player of the Week | September 20 |
| Michaela Onyenwere | WNBA Rookie of the Month - September | September 22 |
| Michaela Onyenwere | WNBA Rookie of the Year | October 5 |
| DiDi Richards | WNBA All-Rookie Team | October 5 |
| Michaela Onyenwere | WNBA All-Rookie Team | October 5 |

## Statistics

Source:

### Regular Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Betnijah Laney | 32 | 32 | 33.7 | 45.1 | 31.2 | 78.7 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 16.8 |
| Natasha Howard | 13 | 13 | 27.5 | 49.4 | 33.3 | 77.4 | 7.2 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 16.2 |
| Sami Whitcomb | 30 | 28 | 28.1 | 47.3 | 42.5 | 81.8 | 5.0 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 11.7 |
| Sabrina Ionescu | 30 | 26 | 30.0 | 37.9 | 32.5 | 91.1 | 5.7 | 6.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 11.7 |
| Rebecca Allen | 25 | 13 | 24.2 | 34.3 | 38.1 | 89.2 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 9.2 |
| Michaela Onyenwere | 32 | 29 | 22.5 | 39.9 | 32.7 | 83.6 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 8.6 |
| Reshanda Gray | 15 | 0 | 14.1 | 53.1 | 22.2 | 69.2 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 5.9 |
| Jazmine Jones | 27 | 0 | 16.6 | 35.6 | 38.3 | 76.1 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 5.9 |
| Kylee Shook | 30 | 19 | 18.9 | 46.7 | 39.3 | 80.0 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 5.7 |
| Leaonna Odom | 18 | 0 | 11.5 | 46.7 | 29.4 | 75.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 3.1 |
| DiDi Richards | 31 | 0 | 11.2 | 42.2 | 45.5 | 60.0 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 2.3 |
| Jocelyn Willoughby | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |