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Alexa Philippou, ESPN
New York Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb has been awarded the title of 2023 WNBA Executive of the Year after successfully assembling a superteam that is now only eight wins away from clinching the franchise’s first-ever WNBA championship.
The decision was made by the league’s 12 executives, who were not allowed to vote for themselves. Kolb received six first-place votes, while Greg Bibb of the Dallas Wings and Darius Taylor of the Connecticut Sun also received multiple first-place votes (two each).
In just one year, the Liberty went from barely making the playoffs to becoming championship contenders thanks to a transformative offseason. New York managed to acquire 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones in a three-team trade and signed 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart and seven-time WNBA assists leader Courtney Vandersloot as free agents.
With Jones, Stewart, and Vandersloot joining forces with 2020 No. 1 draft pick Sabrina Ionescu and 2021 All-Star Betnijah Laney, the Liberty have established themselves as serious contenders, determined to overthrow the reigning champions Las Vegas Aces. Although the Liberty ties 2-2 with the Aces in the regular-season series, they finished two games behind in the standings.
Kolb recently shared with ESPN that New York’s offseason was an exclusive and unlikely combination of circumstances. The team had been in the process of rebuilding, and the trade market presented the opportunity to acquire a player like Jones. Additionally, Stewart and Vandersloot, who are already considered all-time greats, were available in unrestricted free agency. Both players were willing to take salary cuts to join the team, reflecting their collective commitment to winning a championship. Notably, the New York Liberty is the only original franchise that has never won a WNBA title.
Kolb had envisioned this successful outcome early last year and executed it flawlessly during the offseason. The future is bright for the Liberty, as Kolb secured contract extensions for Ionescu, Laney, and Kayla Thornton during the regular season.
“It was incredibly exciting for us to seize this opportunity,” said Kolb. “We had been preparing for these moments, hoping that everything would align not only in terms of acquiring these players but also in terms of their performance on the court.”
The Liberty’s outstanding record of 32-8 is the highest winning percentage (.800) they have ever achieved in franchise history. This incredible turnaround comes after a challenging 2-20 campaign in 2020, which was largely influenced by Ionescu’s season-ending ankle injury. The Liberty also claimed their first championship, winning the Commissioner’s Cup against the Aces in August.
“Everyone has put in consistent and constant effort, truly dedicating themselves to the team’s goals,” said Kolb. “Each player has shown their true character, and that has been the most rewarding aspect of this journey.”
The Liberty’s recent success can be traced back to 2019 when Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai purchased the struggling franchise that was previously playing games outside of the city in Westchester County. Shortly after the acquisition, Kolb was hired, and the team’s front office worked tirelessly to move the team to Brooklyn, increase its relevance within the city, and establish it as a premier franchise. This effort involved providing exceptional facilities and accommodations, expanding the performance staff, and offering resources that are not readily available in the WNBA.
“I believe that our growth aligns perfectly with the plan we had in place,” Kolb commented on the team’s progress. “Not every plan concludes as successfully as we had hoped, so we are extremely excited about our achievements.”
The Liberty, seeded second, will commence their playoff journey on Friday as they host the seventh-seeded Washington Mystics at 7:30 p.m. ET.
New York has not won a playoff series since 2015 and has not advanced to the WNBA Finals since 2002. However, the team boasts numerous players with extensive championship experience. Stewart won WNBA titles in 2018 and 2020, earning Finals MVP both years, Vandersloot won in 2021, and Jones reached the Finals in 2019 and 2022.
“Our starting group provides invaluable playoff experience,” said Kolb. “They fully understand the mission and are ready to tackle it together.”
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