It’s only Day 2 of Liberty training camp and the franchise’s 2024 first-round draft pick is raising eyebrows with her action on the practice court.
Marquesha Davis, this year’s No. 11 overall pick in the WNBA Draft, hit the court running like she did in her time with Ole Miss. On Tuesday, the 6-0 guard frequently raced down the court in transition and performed comfortably while sharing the floor with multiple All-Stars.
Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello noted she called plays for the 22-year-old while she shared the floor with some of last season’s starters. Another possible offensive option off the bench could significantly boost a Liberty squad who finished second in offensive rating last season. But Davis’ play on the other side of the court could instantly earn her minutes this season, with the team lacking stout perimeter defense from guards not named Betnijah Laney-Hamilton.
And perimeter defense is what Brondello alluded to the team not having at times during the 2023 season when speaking after Tuesday’s practice.
“When we drafted her it was exciting because it was a complementary piece to what he didn’t have,” Brondello said Tuesday at Barclays Center. “[She’s] adding to what our core players could do. And how does she help them? It’s not just how they help her. It’s how she helps us, all of us individually, collectively.”
The head coach added that the youngster’s play style — the willing effort to defend and push pace in transition — compares to star Mercury guard Kahleah Copper. However, the veteran coach said Davis is far from being that kind of player but sees the potential.
A Copper player comp is very high praise for a guard who just landed in the league. Copper is one of the best two-way guards the league has to offer. And her three All-Star Game appearances and 2021 WNBA Finals MVP trophy supports her case as one of the league’s best.
Copper, before being dealt to Phoenix in the offseason, was a franchise cornerstone in Chicago. The Liberty hope that Davis can bring some form of that success to a roster with championship aspirations.
“She’s not there yet but she certainly has that ceiling,” the head coach said.
Davis, a former First Team All-SEC selection, was on the Liberty’s radar for “a very long time,” per Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb. The 11th overall pick was the latest first-round selection during his tenure with the Liberty. Since Kolb joined the front office in 2019, the team picked no later than sixth when the Liberty selected Michaela Onyenwere out of UCLA in 2021.
Kolb initially thought Davis wouldn’t fall to No. 11 in the draft but jumped at the opportunity once the team got on the clock.
“We were really hopeful that she would be there at 11,” he said. “We had heard that she wouldn’t be so when she was there we were really excited.
“When you’re at 11 — It’s the first time for us I guess since I’ve been here that we’re that far back in the first round. So there’s a certain amount of anxiety and anticipation over watching what’s going to unfold. So for us at 11, with the roster that we have, we really want to take a hard swing at the highest upside.
