Liberty Trade Michaela Onyenwere To Phoenix, Gain Picks, Prospect in Four-Team Deal
The New York Liberty were part of a four-team trade in the WNBA on Saturday, gaining a pair of draft picks and an international prospect. They will, however, lose Michaela Onyenwere, who heads to the Phoenix Mercury after two seasons in New York.
In the deal, the Liberty land the Chicago Sky's second-round selection in 2024 and a pick swap with Phoenix in 2025. New York also obtains the draft rights to Leonie Fiebich, a German prospect originally chosen by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2020.
Onyenwere, 23, joined New York as the sixth pick of the 2021 WNBA Draft. Immediately thrust into the starting lineup due to several medical and international absences, Onyenwere played a major role in helping the Liberty secure its first playoff berth since 2017. She led all rookies with 8.6 points per game and later secured the Rookie of the Year Award, becoming the first player in franchise history to secure the freshman honor.
While the Liberty have engaged in some exciting transactions (trading for Jonquel Jones and signing Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot) in the new calendar year, Onyenwere becomes the latest casualty of the team's offseason makeover that some have likened to a "superteam." That list also includes Rebecca Allen, Crystal Dangerfield, Natasha Howard, and Sami Whitcomb.
“Michaela was integral in reinvigorating the Liberty team,” Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said in a team statement. “Her contributions throughout the early parts of her career have been incredibly impressive. Mic brought unmatched energy and positivity, irrespective of her role, which speaks to her character and selflessness. She has a very bright future, and we wish her the absolute best in Phoenix where she is poised to take on a larger role.”
Onyenwere's departure (likely approved for salary cap settling purposes) is part of a deal headlined by 2019 All-Star Diamond DeShields and three-point heroine Marina Mabrey. DeShields heads to Dallas after spending last year in Phoenix while Mabrey moves from North Texas to DeShields' original employers in Chicago, the 2021 champions who are trying to reload after losing Vandersloot and several others in the free agency chaos.
Fiebich, currently competing for Spanish club Casademont Zaragoza, notably earned championship glory in Australia, guiding the Warwick Senators to the NBL1 West title last season. She also guided the German national team to victory in the 2018 FIBA U-18 Women's European Championship, earning All-Tournament Team honors alongside MVP and 2022 Liberty draft pick Nyara Sabally.
The 2023 Liberty season opens on May 19 in Washington.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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