ESM keeps track of all the New York Liberty’s happenings at the 2021 WNBA Draft, where they will first choose in the sixth slot.
The New York Liberty have four selections in Thursday night’s WNBA Draft (7 p.m., ESPN). ESM has the live tally below, as well as any Liberty-related draft happenings.
1st Round (6th overall): F Michaela Onyenwere, UCLAÂ
Onyenwere, standing at 6’0, could help at least partially fill the interior void Amanda Zahui B left behind and with Han Xu’s status in question. The former Bruins was second in the Pac-12 in scoring (19.1 per game) and fifth in rebounding (7.2). If the Liberty truly wish to embrace their youth movement, Onyenwere could work her way into the lineup fairly quickly. For her junior efforts, Onyenwere was named to the all-conference team alongside teammate Japreece Dean. She also has three-on-three experience and was part of Team USA’s Pan-American Games efforts in Lima. If the Liberty truly wish to embrace their youthful revolt, Onyenwere could well find herself a place in the starting lineup.
2nd Round (17th overall): G Didi Richards, Baylor
However long her stay in New York becomes, Richards hauls over a sizable trophy case, including the Big 12 and Naismith Committee’s Defensive Player of the Year Award. Though Richard’s shooting leaves something to be desired, she can be a decent offensive facilitator. In terms of training camp bodies, Richards should certainly keep things interesting on the practice courts.
3rd Round (25th overall): F Valerie Higgins, Pacific
The Liberty brought in yet another conference’s defensive heroine, with Higgins hailing from the West Coast Conference after spending her first year at USC. She led the conference with 99 steals, cementing her status as a strong ball defender and placing ninth in the nation.
3rd Round (29th overall): G Marine Fauthoux, France
The few, the proud, the Marines? That appears to be the case, as Fauthoux joins her fellow French national star Marine Johannes. The two previously collaborated on the team’s run to a silver medal EuroBasket Women’s 2019 in Latvia and Serbia.
Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb and select picks will speak at approximately 9:15 p.m. Follow @GeoffJMags for updates.