2021 New York Liberty season | |
---|---|
Coach | Walt Hopkins |
Arena | Barclays Center |
Attendance | 1,874 per game |
Results | |
Record | 12–20 (.375) |
Place | 3rd (Eastern) |
Playoff finish | 8th seed, Lost in the First Round to Phoenix Mercury |
Team Leaders | |
Points | Betnijah Laney – 16.8 ppg |
Rebounds | Natasha Howard – 7.2 rpg |
Assists | Sabrina Ionescu – 6.1 apg |
Media | |
Television | YES |
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.[1]
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.