GM Jonathan Kolb and the Liberty continued their busy offseason with a trade that could fortify the team’s defense in the future.
The team acquired 6-1 guard Rebekah Gardner in a deal with the Chicago Sky, the team announced Thursday. In exchange, the rebuilding Sky franchise received the Liberty’s own 2025 and 2026 second-round draft picks. The move was first reported by Girls Talk Sports TV’s Khristina Williams.
Gardner, who could fulfill the Liberty’s need of defense in the backcourt, is currently rehabbing a torn right Achilles suffered in February while playing for Spanish club Spar Girona.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Rebekah to New York and support her recovery process,” said Kolb. “She has shown tremendous perseverance throughout her career, and in tandem with our talented performance staff, we are confident she will be positioned to have the best opportunity at a full recovery as we target the 2025 season for her return.”
Gardner played just three games in the 2023 WNBA season due to a broken left foot. The 33-year-old received a qualifying offer from the Sky, but never signed it — meaning the Liberty can negotiate contract terms, according to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Annie Costabile.
Gardner has just two seasons of WNBA experience but has 10 years of overseas basketball under her belt. Former Sky head coach/general manager James Wade signed Gardner ahead of the 2022 WNBA season and her contributions helped the team make a run into the semifinal round of the postseason.
In 35 games (two starts) with the Sky, she averaged 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.
