Sun's Rebecca Allen Shines in 'Beautiful' Preseason Reunion with Liberty
The New York Liberty's offseason changes literally began at the top: Rebecca Allen, for example, is no longer the first name listed on the team's alphabetical roster.
Allen was one of the most prominent departures from New York as the franchise built what many are describing as a "superteam" as the 2023 WNBA season's tip-off looms. The Australian defensive standout, frequently referred to as "Spida" for her fearsome wingspan, was involved in the three-team deal with netted the Liberty 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones from the Connecticut Sun and Kayla Thornton from the Dallas Wings. Allen now resides in Connecticut after eight years on the New York roster.
The Victoria native didn't have to wait long for a reunion: Allen's unofficially donned the Sun's orange for the first time on Wednesday morning, when the Liberty visited Uncasville for a preseason matchup. While Jones and New York's other illustrious newcomers (i.e. Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot) did not play, Allen made an impact in a seafoam-branded WNBA contest ... albeit on the other side. In 19 minutes of duty, Allen tallied nine points, six rebounds, and all three of Connecticut's blocks in a 63-57 victory at Mohegan Sun Arena.
The relaxed preseason nature of Wednesday's win allowed Allen to view her first time as a New York adversary with equal ease.
"Honestly, it was beautiful. It was nice to see everyone," Allen said. "I enjoyed being able to see past teammates, past staff. For me, it was nice to, not to get it out of the way, but, in the sense of seeing them early, it's almost like a decent homecoming, too. It wasn't in any way nerves in that sense, it was more so just a really nice feeling."
Allen originally joined the Liberty as an undrafted free agent in 2015 and was a staple of the team's rocky, if not fruitful, ownership transition from The Madison Square Garden Company to Clara and Joe Tsai. Until the Liberty added Epiphanny Prince later in the offseason, she was the one holdover left from the team's MSG era, repping the team at The Garden, Westchester County Center, and Barclays Center over seasons (opting out of the 2020 season in the Bradenton bubble).
Her name lingers in the New York record book, ranking in the top ten in three-pointers (145), three-point percentage (.369), and blocks (110).
"Whether I've left a legacy there or not, it's shaped who I am. That's something that I'm really grateful for," Allen said of New York, expressing a desire to bring a metropolitan "attitude" to Uncasville. The first realization of that goal was on display when she was assigned to defend returning Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu, who was the victim of two Allen swats.
"I think I made Sab pretty mad," Allen said with a laugh. "I want to always bring that to any team I come to. I think people forget my length."
Even though the result of Wednesday's game will be quickly forgotten, Allen earned a permanent personal victory: the scrimmage allowed her to return to a game floor after she sustained a rib/lung injury while repping Australia at the FIBA Women's World Cup, one that cost her a return to the victorious affairs of Valencia Basket Club in Spain. It was part of a painful 2022 season for Allen, who also missed several Liberty games due to a concussion last summer.
Allen didn't try to offer the full scope of her emotions in the aftermath but took the opportunity to thank her support staff for getting her to the point of return while acknowledging her personal accomplishment.
"It's an emotional thing for me, coming back and playing this game," Allen said. "I don't think anyone will ever know what the mental side of that last injury has been for me. To come back and play, honestly, with confidence is something that I am so proud of. I also love that I've got support from everyone else here from coaches and players, so it's helped."
Even Liberty head coach and fellow Australian star Sandy Brondello couldn't help but enjoy her protege's moment, acknowledging her return in her analysis of Wednesday's mixed result. Brondello is well-versed in Allen's antics, having also coached her during their shared national team endeavors that produced consecutive medal finishes at the World Cup (including a silver in 2018).
"I was really happy to see her smile again, being back out there, doing what she does," Brondello said. "She was part of the New York Liberty last year and many years before I even got here but she had a tough run ... I thought she had a really good game and can really add to this team."
Allen and the Sun are set to do battle with the Liberty four times in the upcoming regular season, the first official meeting landing on May 27.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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