The WNBA trade deadline came and went Sunday afternoon without the Liberty making a move.
For weeks, general manager Jonathan Kolb canvassed the league looking for potential roster upgrades.
There were talks involving former Connecticut Sun forward Aneesah Morrow, who ultimately was dealt to the Toronto Tempo. Kolb had exploratory conversations with the Sparks regarding Kelsey Plum, but those fizzled, too. The Phoenix Mercury acquired Plum in a blockbuster trade early Sunday.
There was speculation that Betnijah Laney-Hamilton could be on the move since she’s fallen completely out of the rotation over the past three weeks.
Ultimately, the Liberty stood pat. Laney-Hamilton is still in New York. And Kolb is betting on his team getting healthy.
Whether you like it or not, this is your 2026 New York Liberty team.
The decision to not make a move is both a calculated choice and a leap of faith. The Liberty weren’t going to make a trade for the sake of being part of the action. The question for Kolb was whether a move would increase the team’s championship contention odds.
Nothing came to fruition.
The message from the Liberty’s dormant trade deadline is that the team’s brass has the utmost confidence in this roster when it’s at full strength.
Injuries marred the first 30 games of the season. The Liberty have played only 2 ½ games at full strength.
First-year coach Chris DeMarco’s rotation has been a game of Jenga, changing almost every other week because of one adversity or another. He’s used 13 different starting lineups.
Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally have played in six games together, logging only 55 minutes.
The final game they played together was June 23, during which Sabally exited the game early with a head injury. She’s been in concussion protocol since.
In mid-July, the Liberty were sucking air after a particularly tough stretch, where they lost eight of 10 games.
New York has gone 4-1 since and has a firm grasp on a playoff spot.
Stewart has been playing out of her mind this season.
In July, she recorded 26.4 points per game, the highest scoring average in any month of her career. She’s reestablished herself as a three-level scorer, shooting 41.9 percent over the past 10 games.
Had the Liberty’s defense not been so flimsy, Stewart would be a clear front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year. Regardless, she is more than deserving of being in the running for MVP.
Ionescu, who missed most of the first five weeks of the season, has been on a tear lately, too. In the past 10 games, she’s averaging 21.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 46.1 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from deep and 91.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Jonquel Jones had an All-Star-worthy first half. The Liberty are at their best when she’s engaged on both ends of the floor.
The bench has its moments, too.
Leonie Fiebich is on the mend from a left foot injury that’s sidelined her since July 3. The hope is she’ll be back soon, which should provide a spark.
Meanwhile, Sabally’s potential return is less certain.
It’s been an up-and-down season for New York. The Liberty believe this roster has enough to win a championship.
Time will tell whether Kolb’s bet that the team will have a clean bill of health come playoff time will pay off.
