Kolb Makes History as First Liberty GM to Win WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year
NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 – In an exciting announcement today, the WNBA declared Jonathan Kolb, General Manager of the New York Liberty, as the recipient of the prestigious 2023 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year award.
“I am incredibly honored to receive this esteemed recognition as the WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year, bestowed upon me by my esteemed colleagues who I deeply admire,” expressed a modest Kolb. “This accolade symbolizes the remarkable synergy within our team – from the unwavering trust of Clara and our ownership group, the strong partnership with Keia and our business team, the exceptional talent and unity displayed by our players on the court, the meticulous dedication of Sandy and our coaching staff, the strategic collaboration with my confidant Ohemaa and our front office, to the unwavering support of our performance staff and the entire team.”
He continued, “Serving as the General Manager for the New York Liberty is truly a dream come true for me, and I am fully aware of the immense responsibility and gratitude that accompanies this role. Witnessing the overwhelming support from our fans has been truly remarkable, and I eagerly anticipate the journey ahead of us.”
Kolb broke records during the previous off-season, becoming the first GM in WNBA history to acquire three All-Stars from the previous season, including two former MVPs – Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, and Courtney Vandersloot. Alongside these significant acquisitions, Kolb also made noteworthy deals, such as acquiring Kayla Thornton, obtaining player rights to Leonie Fiebich, and securing 2025 First Round pick swap rights with the Phoenix Mercury.
The Liberty’s roster soared to unprecedented heights during the 2023 regular season, culminating with a franchise-best 32-8 (.800) overall record and becoming only the second team in WNBA history to achieve 30-plus wins in a single season. Beyond breaking numerous franchise records, New York also established a new WNBA record for team assist percentage at 75.0%.
Furthermore, in his fifth season as GM, Jonathan positioned New York for continued success by securing multi-year extensions for Sabrina Ionescu, Kayla Thornton, and Betnijah Laney, all of whom will remain with the team until the 2025 season.
This prestigious award marks the first-ever in the history of the New York Liberty franchise since its establishment in the 2017 season.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
