2022 New York Liberty season

The 2022 New York Liberty season was the 26th season for the New York Liberty franchise of the WNBA. The Liberty opened the regular season on May 7, 2022, versus the Connecticut Sun.[1]

2022 New York Liberty season
CoachSandy Brondello
ArenaBarclays Center
Attendance5,327 per game
Results
Record16–20 (.444)
Place4th (Eastern)
Playoff finish7th seed
Lost in 1st Round to the Chicago Sky
Team Leaders
PointsSabrina Ionescu – 17.4 ppg
ReboundsNatasha Howard – 7.3 rpg
AssistsSabrina Ionescu – 6.3 apg

Ahead of the season, the Liberty parted ways with head coach Walt Hopkins on December 6, 2021, after two years with the team.[2] On January 7, 2022, the Liberty announced the hiring of new head coach Sandy Brondello[3]

On May 3, 2022, the Liberty announced that 1st Round draft pick Nyara Sabally had undergone a successful Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation and would miss the entire 2022 season.[4]

The Liberty won their first game of the season but their quick start did not last long. They went on a seven game losing streak after their opening day win to finish May 1–7. The Liberty were able to turn things around in June, finishing the month 7–4 and seeming to develop a pattern of winning two games and then losing one. That pattern occurred three times in the month. That streak did not last into July as the team went 3–7 in the month and had a six game losing streak. To finish an up-and-down season, they went 5–2 in August and secured the seventh seed in the 2022 WNBA Playoffs with a 16–20 overall record. Their sixteen regular season wins was the franchise's most since they won twenty two games in 2017.

As the seventh seed, the Liberty were matched up against the second seed Chicago Sky in the first round of the playoffs, with Chicago having home court advantage. That advantage did not last long as the Liberty won the opening game of the series 98–91. The Liberty wouldn't build on that momentum and lost the next two games, including the series decider at home, by a combined fifty-six points.

Transactions

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WNBA draft

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Round Pick Player Nationality School/team/country
1 5 Nyara Sabally   Germany Oregon
3 29 Sika Koné   Mali CB Islas Canarias (Spain)

Trades and Roster Changes

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Date Transaction
December 6, 2021 Parted ways with head coach Walt Hopkins
December 31, 2021 Renounced the rights to Olcay Cakir[5]
January 7, 2022 Hired Sandy Brondello as head coach [6]
January 11, 2022 Extended Qualifying Offers to Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe and Paris Kea[7]
January 14, 2022 Signed Paris Kea to the Qualifying Offer[8]
February 3, 2022 Signed Stefanie Dolson to a Two-Year Deal[9]
February 4, 2022 Waived Jazmine Jones and Leaonna Odom[10][11]
Signed Rebecca Allen to a Two-Year Deal[12]
March 16, 2022 Hired Olaf Lange, Roneeka Hodges, and Zach O'Brien as assistant coaches[13]
April 11, 2022 Traded a 2023 Second Round Pick to the Seattle Storm for the rights to Lorela Cubaj[14]
April 15, 2022 Signed Lorela Cubaj to a rookie-scale contract
April 27, 2022 Waived Paris Kea[15]
May 2, 2022 Full Season Suspension of the contract for Kylee Shook for personal reasons
May 5, 2022 Temporarily Suspend Rebecca Allen due to Overseas Commitments
May 6, 2022 Signed Kaila Charles to a Hardship Contract [16]
May 8, 2022 Released Kaila Charles from her Hardship Contract
May 15, 2022 Exercised the 4th Year Team Option on Sabrina Ionescu
May 16, 2022 Exercised the 4th Year Team Option on Jocelyn Willoughby
May 17, 2022 Activated Rebecca Allen from her Temporary Suspension
May 21, 2022 Signed Crystal Dangerfield to a Hardship Contract[17]
June 8, 2022 Traded AD to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Megan Walker and the rights to Raquel Carrera[18]
Waived Megan Walker
Signed Marine Johannès[19]
Released Crystal Dangerfield from her Hardship Contract
June 9, 2022 Signed Crystal Dangerfield to a Hardship Contract[20]
June 26, 2022 Released Crystal Dangerfield from her Hardship Contract
July 1, 2022 Waived Lorela Cubaj[21]
July 3, 2022 Signed Crystal Dangerfield[22]

Roster

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2022 New York Liberty roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
G/F 9   Allen, Rebecca 6' 2" (1.88m) 162 lb (73kg) 1992-11-06 Australia 6
G 3   Dangerfield, Crystal 5' 5" (1.65m) 130 lb (59kg) 1998-05-11 Connecticut 1
C 31   Dolson, Stefanie 6' 5" (1.96m) 235 lb (107kg) 1992-01-08 Connecticut 8
F 6   Howard, Natasha 6' 2" (1.88m) 165 lb (75kg) 1991-09-02 Florida State 8
G 20   Ionescu, Sabrina 5' 11" (1.8m) 165 lb (75kg) 1997-12-06 Oregon 2
G 23   Johannès, Marine 5' 10" (1.78m) 134 lb (61kg) 01-21-1995 France 1
G/F 44   Laney, Betnijah 6' 0" (1.83m) 166 lb (75kg) 1993-10-29 Rutgers 6
F 12   Onyenwere, Michaela 6' 0" (1.83m) 178 lb (81kg) 1999-08-10 UCLA 1
G/F 2   Richards, DiDi 6' 2" (1.88m) 164 lb (74kg) 1999-02-08 Baylor 1
G 32   Whitcomb, Sami 5' 10" (1.78m) 145 lb (66kg) 1988-07-20 Washington 5
G/F 13   Willoughby, Jocelyn 6' 0" (1.83m) 180 lb (82kg) 1998-03-25 Virginia 1
C 21   Xu, Han 6' 10" (2.08m) 193 lb (88kg) 10-31-1999 China 1
Head coach
  Sandy Brondello (Western Sydney)
Assistant coaches
  Olaf Lange
  Roneeka Hodges (Florida State)
  Zach O'Brien
Athletic trainer
  Terri Acosta
Strength and conditioning coach
  Emily Zaler

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Depth

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Pos. Starter Bench
C Stefanie Dolson Han Xu
PF Natasha Howard Michaela Onyenwere
SF Betnijah Laney Rebecca Allen
Jocelyn Willoughby
SG Sabrina Ionescu Marine Johannès
DiDi Richards
PG Crystal Dangerfield Sami Whitcomb

Schedule

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Preseason

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2022 pre-season game log
April: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
1 April 30 Washington Canceled Barclays Center 0–0
2022 pre-season schedule

Regular Season

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2022 game log
Total: 16–20 (Home: 9–9; Road: 7–11)
May: 1–7 (Home: 1–3; Road: 0–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
1 May 7 Connecticut W 81–79 Sabrina Ionescu (25) Natasha Howard (6) Sabrina Ionescu (6) Barclays Center
6,829
1–0
2 May 11 @ Chicago L 50–83 Han Xu (10) Dolson
Ionescu (6)
Betnijah Laney (6) Wintrust Arena
4,935
1–1
3 May 13 Indiana L 86–92 (OT) Sabrina Ionescu (31) Natasha Howard (9) Sabrina Ionescu (7) Barclays Center
3,289
1–2
4 May 15 Dallas L 71–81 Sabrina Ionescu (17) Natasha Howard (8) Sabrina Ionescu (6) Barclays Center
3,095
1–3
5 May 17 Connecticut L 65–92 Betnijah Laney (16) Stefanie Dolson (7) Sabrina Ionescu (4) Barclays Center
3,054
1–4
6 May 24 @ Minnesota L 78–84 Natasha Howard (23) Sabrina Ionescu (9) Sami Whitcomb (9) Target Center
6,104
1–5
7 May 27 @ Seattle L 71–79 Natasha Howard (19) Natasha Howard (9) Sami Whitcomb (8) Climate Pledge Arena
10,001
1–6
8 May 29 @ Seattle L 61–92 Han Xu (13) Han Xu (8) Sabrina Ionescu (4) Climate Pledge Arena
10,228
1–7
June : 7–4 (Home: 3–4; Road: 4–0)
July : 3–7 (Home: 2–2; Road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
20 July 3 @ Los Angeles L 74–84 Marine Johannès (17) Sabrina Ionescu (9) Sabrina Ionescu (8) Crypto.com Arena
5,436
8–12
21 July 6 @ Las Vegas W 116–107 Sabrina Ionescu (31) Sabrina Ionescu (13) Sabrina Ionescu (10) Michelob Ultra Arena
8,405
9–12
22 July 7 @ Phoenix L 81–84 Sabrina Ionescu (22) Sabrina Ionescu (10) Marine Johannès (6) Footprint Center
6,158
9–13
23 July 12 Las Vegas L 101–107 Sabrina Ionescu (27) Natasha Howard (11) Ionescu
Johannès (5)
Barclays Center
5,201
9–14
24 July 14 Las Vegas L 74–108 Natasha Howard (19) Natasha Howard (9) Sabrina Ionescu (6) Barclays Center
9,896
9–15
25 July 19 @ Connecticut L 63–82 Sabrina Ionescu (13) Stefanie Dolson (6) Sabrina Ionescu (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,288
9–16
26 July 21 @ Washington L 69–78 Natasha Howard (17) Natasha Howard (10) Crystal Dangerfield (5) Capital One Arena
7,431
9–17
27 July 23 Chicago W 83–80 Sabrina Ionescu (17) Natasha Howard (10) Sabrina Ionescu (9) Barclays Center
6,926
10–17
28 July 29 @ Chicago L 81–89 Sabrina Ionescu (16) Natasha Howard (10) Sabrina Ionescu (6) Wintrust Arena
6,924
10–18
29 July 31 Phoenix W 89–69 Natasha Howard (23) Natasha Howard (12) Sabrina Ionescu (16) Barclays Center
6,433
11–18
August : 5–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
30 August 2 Los Angeles W 102–73 Sabrina Ionescu (31) Natasha Howard (11) Han Xu (8) Barclays Center
4,891
12–18
31 August 3 Los Angeles W 64–61 Sabrina Ionescu (20) Dolson
Ionescu (8)
Sabrina Ionescu (6) Barclays Center
5,315
13–18
32 August 6 @ Phoenix L 62–76 Sabrina Ionescu (20) Stefanie Dolson (7) Sabrina Ionescu (5) Footprint Center
11,724
13–19
33 August 8 @ Dallas L 77–86 Sabrina Ionescu (32) Sabrina Ionescu (7) Sabrina Ionescu (4) College Park Center
3,036
13–20
34 August 10 @ Dallas W 91–73 Sami Whitcomb (15) Sabrina Ionescu (9) Sabrina Ionescu (7) College Park Center
3,795
14–20
35 August 12 @ Atlanta W 80–70 Crystal Dangerfield (18) Natasha Howard (12) Dangerfield
Ionescu (6)
Gateway Center Arena
3,138
15–20
36 August 14 Atlanta W 87–83 N. Howard
Johannes (18)
Stefanie Dolson (12) Sabrina Ionescu (7) Barclays Center
7,561
16–20
2022 season schedule

Playoffs

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2022 playoff game log
First round vs. Chicago Sky
Lost Series: 1–2
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 August 17 @ Chicago W 98–91 N. Howard
Ionescu (22)
Dolson
N. Howard
Ionescu (7)
Marine Johannès (7) Wintrust Arena
7,524
1–0
2 August 20 @ Chicago L 62–100 Onyenwere
Xu (10)
Ionescu
Xu (5)
Dolson
Ionescu
Laney
Whitcomb (3)
Wintrust Arena
7,732
1–1
3 August 23 Chicago L 72–90 Betnijah Laney (15) Natasha Howard (11) Ionescu
Johannès (4)
Barclays Center
7,837
1–2
2022 playoff schedule

Standings

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# W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 xLas Vegas Aces 26 10 .722 15–3 13–5 13–5 9–1
2 xChicago Sky 26 10 .722 15–3 14–4 12–6 9–1
3 xConnecticut Sun 25 11 .694 1.0 11–7 13–5 12–6 5–5
4 xSeattle Storm 22 14 .611 4.0 10–8 13–5 9–9 6–4
5 xWashington Mystics 22 14 .611 4.0 11–7 12–6 10–8 5–5
6 xDallas Wings 18 18 .500 8.0 8–10 8–10 10–8 5–5
7 xNew York Liberty 16 20 .444 10.0 10–8 9–9 7–11 6–4
8 xPhoenix Mercury 15 21 .417 11.0 7–11 11–7 4–14 3–7
9 eMinnesota Lynx 14 22 .389 12.0 8–10 7–11 7–11 4–6
10 eAtlanta Dream 14 22 .389 12.0 5–13 8–10 6–12 3–7
11 eLos Angeles Sparks 13 23 .361 13.0 6–12 7–11 6–12 3–7
12 eIndiana Fever 5 31 .139 21.0 2–16 3–15 2–16 2–8

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

Playoffs

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Round One:
Best-of-3
Semifinals:
Best-of-5
Finals:
Best-of-5
         
1 Las Vegas Aces 2
8 Phoenix Mercury 0
1 Las Vegas Aces 3
4 Seattle Storm 1
4 Seattle Storm 2
5 Washington Mystics 0
1 Las Vegas Aces 3
3 Connecticut Sun 1
2 Chicago Sky 2
7 New York Liberty 1
2 Chicago Sky 2
3 Connecticut Sun 3
3 Connecticut Sun 2
6 Dallas Wings 1

Bold Series winner

Statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per game Team leader League leader

Regular Season

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Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Sabrina Ionescu 36 36 32.3 .411 .333 .931 7.1 6.3 1.1 0.3 17.4
Natasha Howard 35 35 29.9 .482 .326 .715 7.3 2.3 1.3 1.0 15.1
Betnijah Laney 9 6 28.3 .422 .379 .875 3.3 2.8 0.4 0.1 11.2
Marine Johannès 24 10 25.5 .464 .437 .870 1.7 3.4 0.6 0.1 10.0
Han Xu 32 0 16.8 .493 .444 .796 3.6 0.9 0.5 0.7 8.5
Stefanie Dolson 36 36 22.9 .493 .394 .905 4.8 1.8 0.4 0.8 8.1
Rebecca Allen 25 19 20.9 .379 .313 .833 3.4 1.2 0.8 1.0 7.0
Sami Whitcomb 35 6 21.3 .366 .351 .870 2.4 2.3 0.7 0.1 6.5
Crystal Dangerfield 30 27 22.1 .395 .323 .700 2.1 2.5 0.6 0.1 5.4
Michaela Onyenwere 34 1 13.7 .377 .300 .836 2.1 0.4 0.4 0.2 4.7
Jocelyn Willoughby 11 4 11.0 .423 .273 .500 1.6 0.4 0.5 0.2 2.6
DiDi Richards 14 0 11.1 .306 .273 .700 1.7 1.4 0.1 0.4 2.3
AD Durr 10 0 7.0 .176 .111 .875 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.2 1.4
Lorela Cubaj 11 0 8.0 .333 .000 .000 2.1 0.4 0.0 0.2 0.7


Waived/Released during the season
Traded during the season
Acquired during the season

Playoffs

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Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Natasha Howard 3 3 27.7 .442 .100 1.000 6.7 1.0 0.7 0.0 14.7
Sabrina Ionescu 3 3 31.0 .531 .400 .750 6.0 4.3 1.0 0.3 14.3
Betnijah Laney 3 3 24.3 .419 .250 .875 4.0 3.3 0.7 0.3 11.3
Stefanie Dolson 3 3 26.3 .444 .600 .000 3.7 2.7 0.0 1.0 6.3
Marine Johannès 3 1 23.0 .429 .400 1.000 2.3 4.3 1.7 0.0 5.7
Han Xu 3 0 10.0 .417 1.000 .833 2.7 0.3 0.0 0.7 5.3
Michaela Onyenwere 3 0 7.3 .364 .000 1.000 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.7
Rebecca Allen 3 0 16.3 .286 .167 1.000 3.0 1.3 0.7 0.3 4.3
DiDi Richards 2 0 8.5 .400 .000 1.000 1.5 1.0 1.0 0.0 4.0
Sami Whitcomb 3 0 14.7 .364 .429 .000 0.3 2.0 1.0 0.0 3.7
Jocelyn Willoughby 2 0 7.0 1.000 .000 .667 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0
Crystal Dangerfield 3 2 9.0 .273 .250 .000 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 2.3

Awards and honors

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Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
Sabrina Ionescu Eastern Conference Player of the Week June 13 [23]
July 8 [24]
August 8 [25]
August 15 [26]
WNBA All-Star Starter June 22 [27]
Eastern Conference Player of the Month - June July 5 [28]
Eastern Conference Player of the Month - August August 16 [29]
All-WNBA Second Team September 15 [30]
Natasha Howard WNBA All-Star Selection June 28 [31]

References

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  1. ^ "2022 New York Liberty Schedule". Women's National Basketball Association. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  2. ^ Voepel, Mechelle. "Walt Hopkins out as New York Liberty coach after two years". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  3. ^ "New York Liberty Name Sandy Brondello as Head Coach". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  4. ^ "Nyara Sabally Medical Update". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  5. ^ "WNBA Transctions – Player Movement". acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  6. ^ "New York Liberty Name Sandy Brondello as Head Coach". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  7. ^ "Rachel Galligan Tweet". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  8. ^ "Rachel Galligan Tweet 2". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  9. ^ "New York Liberty Sign 2021 WNBA Champion Stefanie Dolson". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  10. ^ "NY Liberty Tweet". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  11. ^ "NY Liberty Tweet 2". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  12. ^ "New York Liberty re-sign Rebecca Allen". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  13. ^ "New York Liberty Finalize 2022 Coaching Staff". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  14. ^ "New York Liberty Select Nyara Sabally, Lorela Cubaj and Sika Kone in 2022 WNBA Draft". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  15. ^ "New York Liberty waive Paris Kea. Thank you @pariskea22 for your contributions on and off the court. 🗽". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  16. ^ "The New York Liberty announced today that the team has signed guard/forward Kaila Charles on a hardship contract. Kaila will be available for tomorrow's season opener against the Connecticut Sun at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN. Welcome to New York, Kaila!🗽". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  17. ^ "The New York Liberty announced today that the team has signed guard and 2020 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award Winner, @crystald2_ on a hardship contract. 1/2". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  18. ^ "Atlanta Dream Acquire AD in Trade with New York". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  19. ^ "Liberty Trade AD Durr to Dream for Raquel Carrera, Sign Marine Johannès". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  20. ^ "Liberty Re-sign Crystal Dangerfield to Hardship Contract". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  21. ^ New York Liberty [@nyliberty] (July 1, 2022). "Thank you, @LorelaCubaj for your hard work and dedication on and off the court.🗽" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ^ "Liberty Re-sign Crystal Dangerfield to Rest-of-Season Contract". liberty.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  23. ^ @WNBA (June 13, 2022). "We had some pretty memorable games from these two this week 🔥 The WNBA Players of the Week are @breannastewart and @sabrina_i20 👏" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ^ @nyliberty (July 8, 2022). "And another one! @sabrina_i20 is the @wnbaEastern Conference Player of the Week! 👏" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ @WNBA (August 8, 2022). "Your #WNBA Week 12 Players of the Week ⬇ @Teaira_15 and @sabrina_i20 showed up and showed OUT last week for their squads 🙌" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ^ @WNBA (August 15, 2022). "These two balled out during the last week of the #WNBA regular season 🙌 @_ajawilson22 and @sabrina_i20 are your Week 13 Players of the Week 🚨" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "AT&T WNBA All-Star Starters Announced With Seattle Storm's Sue Bird Extending Record-Number of All-Star Selections to 13". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  28. ^ @WNBA (July 5, 2022). "These two WENT OFF all June! 👏 @breannastewart & @sabrina_i20 are your Western and Eastern Conference @Kia #WNBA Players of the Month 🤩" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  29. ^ @WNBA (August 16, 2022). "They put the W on notice ALL MONTH LONG ‼ @Teaira_15 and @sabrina_i20 are your @KIA #WNBA Players of the Month #MoreThan" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  30. ^ "Kia WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson Leads 2022 All-WNBA First Team" (Press release). WNBA. September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  31. ^ "Chicago Sky Trio of Kahleah Copper, Emma Meesseman, Courtney Vandersloot Highlight Reserves for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2022". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
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