New York Liberty finalizes 2014 training camp roster

The New York Liberty finalized its 2014 training camp roster with the additions of Jerica Coley, Shanece McKinney and Ebony Hoffman. The Liberty open training camp on Sunday, April 27, and to celebrate their return to New York City and Madison Square Garden the team will participate in the second annual 9/11 Memorial 5K Run/Walk that day.

Coley, a 5-8 rookie guard from Florida International University (FIU), led the nation in scoring with 29.4 points per game in her senior year. In four seasons at FIU, she averaged 23.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. McKinney is a 6-4 center from Louisiana State University, where she averaged 7.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game as a senior. Hoffman, a 10-year veteran of the WNBA, spent the previous three seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks and seven seasons with the Indiana Fever. For her career, she has averaged 6.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

New York enters its second season under head coach and general manager Bill Laimbeer. In addition to All-Star guard Cappie Pondexter, the Liberty added 2012 WNBA MVP and former No. 1 draft pick Tina Charles in an offseason trade that will bolster the team’s starting frontcourt. All-Star forward Essence Carson is also expected to return to the court after a season-ending left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear last season. Along with this trio, New York will rely on a group of proven veterans, including Plenette Pierson, Kara Braxton, Delisha Milton-Jones, Alex Montgomery, and second-year players Toni Young and Kamiko Williams.

New York welcomes two 2014 WNBA Draft picks to training camp with second round selection Tyaunna Marshall (14th overall) from Georgia Tech and third round pick Meighan Simmons (26th overall) of Tennessee. In addition, the team signed three players to the 2014 training camp roster with forward Nicky Anosike, and guards Janeesa “Chucky” Jeffery and Anna Cruz. New York also acquired guard Sugar Rodgers in a trade with Minnesota.

The Liberty will tip-off the 2014 preseason with back-to-back games against the Connecticut Sun, beginning with a road contest at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday, May 4 at 1 p.m., followed by a home matchup on Thursday, May 8 at 11 a.m. at Madison Square Garden. Exhibition play concludes on Sunday, May 11 at 3 p.m. against the Atlanta Dream at Philips Arena.

NUM	PLAYER	POS	HT	WT	DOB	FROM	YRS
13	Nicky Anosike	F-C	6-3	210	02/27/1986	Tennessee	5
45	Kara Braxton	C-F	6-6	225	02/18/1983	Georgia	9
17	Essence Carson	F-G	6-0	165	07/28/1986	Rutgers	6
31	Tina Charles	C	6-4	198	12/05/1988	Connecticut	4
	Jerica Coley	G	5-8		01/16/1992	Florida International	R
51	Anna Cruz	G	5-10		10/27/1986		R
0	Chucky Jeffery	G	5-10		05/08/1991	Colorado	1
10	Tyanunna Marshall	G	5-9		12/22/1992	Georgia Tech	R
	Shanece McKinney	F	6-4		08/25/1992	Louisiana State	R
1	DeLisha Milton-Jones	F	6-1	185	09/11/1974	Florida	15
21	Alex Montgomery	G-F	6-1	185	11/12/1988	Georgia Tech	3
33	Plenette Pierson	F-C	6-2	178	08/31/1981	Texas Tech	11
23	Cappie Pondexter	G	5-9	160	01/07/1983	Rutgers	8
14	Sugar Rodgers	G	5-9	160	12/08/1989	Georgetown	1
26	Meighan Simmons	G	5-9		01/25/1992	Tennessee	R
4	Kamiko Williams	G	5-11	160	04/06/1991	Tennessee	1
15	Toni Young	F	6-2	160	01/11/1991	Oklahoma State	1
	Ebony Hoffman	F	6-2		08/27/1982	USC	10