New York Liberty acquires guard Shoni Schimmel from Atlanta Dream in exchange for 2017 second round draft pick
The New York Liberty acquired All-Star point guard Shoni Schimmel from the Atlanta Dream in exchange for its 2017 second round draft pick. Schimmel is a 2014 WNBA first round pick (No. 8 overall), two-time WNBA All-Star, and the Most Valuable Player of the 2014 All-Star Game. In two WNBA seasons she has career averages of 8.0 ppg, 3.4 apg, and 1.5 3-pointers per game.
“Shoni Schimmel has demonstrated she can shine on a big stage, and I am confident that with the leadership on our coaching staff and on our team she will thrive as a member of the New York Liberty playing at Madison Square Garden,” said Liberty president Isiah Thomas. “Shoni is good fit for our style of play. Her long-range shooting will really allow us to spread the floor on the offensive end. She takes pride in giving back to the community and she shares the same core values we look for in every member of our team.”
During her rookie season in 2014, Schimmel appeared in 34 games, starting twice, while averaging 8.3 ppg and 3.6 apg. She followed that up with a 2015 campaign that saw her shoot 38.3 percent from 3-point range, averaging 7.6 ppg and 3.2 apg.
Last week the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the Dream head coach Michael Cooper was disappointed in Schimmel for coming into training camp out of shape for the second season in row.
“(I’m) very, very disappointed in her,” said Cooper to the AJC. “Our owners are very disappointed in her. But we still believe in her. But she has to be held accountable. We will see by the time training camp ends.”
2016 Atlanta Dream Roster (as of May 2, 2016)
| No. | Player | Pos | Ht. | Exp | From |
| 10 | Matee Ajavon | G | 5-8 | 8 | Rutgers |
| 11 | Cierra Burdick | F | 6-2 | 1 | Tennessee |
| 8 | Carla Cortijo | G | 5-8 | 1 | Texas |
| 12 | Damiris Dantas* | F | 6-3 | 2 | Brazil |
| 21 | Reshanda Gray | F | 6-2 | 1 | California |
| 15 | Tiffany Hayes | G | 5-10 | 4 | Connecticut |
| 5 | Roneeka Hodges | G | 5-11 | 11 | Florida St. |
| 14 | Rachel Hollivay | C | 6-4 | R | Rutgers |
| 32 | Bria Holmes | G | 6-1 | R | West Virginia |
| 2 | Niya Johnson | G | 5-8 | R | Baylor |
| 20 | Sancho Lyttle* | F | 6-4 | 11 | Houston |
| 35 | Angel McCoughtry* | G/F | 6-1 | 7 | Louisville |
| 22 | Ariel Massengale | G | 5-7 | R | Tennessee |
| 1 | DeLisha Milton-Jones | F/C | 6-1 | 18 | Florida |
| 0 | Meighan Simmons | G | 5-9 | 1 | Tennessee |
| 33 | Courtney Walker | G | 5-8 | R | Texas A&M |
| 52 | Elizabeth Williams | C/F | 6-3 | 1 | Duke |
* – not on active roster/still competing overseas
