New York Liberty
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One of the original WNBA teams, the New York Liberty have a history of success on the court. They have four conference titles to their credit. To their frustration they have never managed to win a league championship. Following numerous personnel changes during the off-season, the Liberty are preparing to make another run.
[edit] 2006 In Review[edit] What Went Right?The New York Liberty celebrated their 10th anniversary season by finishing with the worst record in franchise history. But the Liberty did show some signs of life at various points throughout the season. The Liberty are undergoing a radical transformation from the older, veteran-laden squad of a few years ago to a younger, more athletic squad. With these new players, Liberty fans can remain optimistic about the team's future. In Shemeka Christon's third season in the WNBA, the forward took on a starting role for the first time and became one of the go-to players at both ends of the floor. She led the Liberty in blocks per game as a small forward (1.24) and averaged 12.4 points per game. Individually, she made great strides and improved in 12 out of 15 statistical categories. Her scoring, rebounding and blocks have gone up every year since she was a rookie. Additional positives to take out of 2006 were the successful additions of veteran forward Barb Farris and rookie Sherrill Baker. Baker was the Liberty's first-round pick and showed glimpses of greatness and blazing speed. Most notably, the Liberty found their stride and finished strong down the stretch. The Lib won seven of their last 10 games and were 5-1 on their home court in that span. [edit] What Went Wrong? |
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The Liberty were disappointed by their fifth-place finish, missing out on the playoffs for only the second time in 10 years. Of course, the team did replace four of its five starters from 2005 prior to the start of the season, which was the root of their struggles. Crystal Robinson and Vickie Johnson joined new teams through free agency, Elena Baranova stayed home in Russia to have a baby and Ann Wauters took the year off to stay in Europe.
Aside from Christon, the Liberty did not have a consistent scorer and often did not know where they were getting their next basket. Just trying to keep its head above water, the team finished second to last in the league in points per game (69.8), field goals made (822) and rebounds per game (30).
Looking Ahead To 2007
The Liberty traded superstar Becky Hammon to the San Antonio Silver Stars and will need players to step up to fill her shoes. But where else will the help come from?
After being chosen first in the 2005 WNBA Draft, Janel McCarville found herself available to the Liberty, who took the strong post player with the third pick in the Charlotte Sting Dispersal Draft. McCarville has yet to establish herself as a go-to player, but she should provide the Liberty with flexibility. She can play both the forward and center positions, passes well for a big and has been playing superbly overseas. She finished the 2006 season with the Sting averaging 4.5 ppg, 0.67 blocks per game and 0.57 steals per game. At 6-2, McCarville is a tough defender, but questions remain as to whether or not she can fulfill the promise.
But the Liberty have not done much else to fill the void in the post. New York needs at least one or two rotation players to improve this season, though they did finish last season on a roll. If the team can continue the way they left off, Liberty fans just might find justice after all.
Key Stats
2006 Leaders
| Player | Points | Player | Rebounds | Player | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becky Hammon | 14.7 | Kelly Schumacher | 5.5 | Becky Hammon | 3.7 |
| Shameka Christon | 12.4 | Barbara Farris | 5.2 | Loree Moore | 3.6 |
| Cathrine Kraayeveld | 8.8 | Cathrine Kraayeveld | 4.7 | Barbara Farris | 1.5 |
Season-by-Season
| Season | Wins | Losses | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 11 | 23 | .324 |
| 2005 | 18 | 16 | .529 |
| 2004 | 18 | 16 | .529 |
| 2003 | 16 | 18 | .471 |
| 2002 | 18 | 14 | .563 |
| 2001 | 21 | 11 | .656 |
| 2000 | 20 | 12 | .625 |
| 1999 | 18 | 14 | .563 |
| 1998 | 18 | 12 | .600 |
| 1997 | 17 | 11 | .607 |
| TOTAL | 175 | 147 | .543 |
History
The New York Liberty are one of the eight original WNBA teams which began play in the league's first season in 1997. Although they have never won a WNBA title, they have been to the finals four times and are recognized as one of the more successful franchises in the WNBA's short history. Read More...
Home Court
| Arena | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Madison Square Garden | 1997-Present |
