New York Liberty’s GM Jonathan Kolb Named 2023 WNBA Executive of the Year.
In a remarkable turnaround, New York Liberty’s General Manager, Jonathan Kolb, has been awarded the prestigious title of 2023 WNBA Executive of the Year. This accolade comes hot on the heels of the Liberty’s sensational season, where they find themselves just eight wins away from securing their first WNBA championship in franchise history.
The decision for this award was made by the league’s 12 executives, with the stipulation that individuals were not allowed to vote for themselves. Kolb received a total of six first-place votes, showcasing his impressive impact on the franchise. Other contenders for the award included Greg Bibb of the Dallas Wings and Darius Taylor of the Connecticut Sun, each receiving two first-place votes.
New York Liberty’s transformation from playoff contenders to championship favorites was nothing short of historic. This remarkable journey began with a monumental offseason, during which they acquired the 2021 WNBA MVP, Jonquel Jones, in a three-team trade. They also signed two legendary players, 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart and seven-time WNBA assists leader Courtney Vandersloot, as free agents.
The star-studded lineup of Jones, Stewart, Vandersloot, 2020 No. 1 draft pick Sabrina Ionescu, and 2021 All-Star Betnijah Laney solidified the Liberty’s status as serious championship contenders. They are determined to dethrone the reigning champions, the Las Vegas Aces, whom they tied 2-2 in the regular-season series but finished just two games behind in the standings.
Kolb, in an interview, described New York’s offseason as a “confluence of events that will probably never happen again.” This remarkable confluence was driven by several factors, including the Liberty’s rebuilding process, the availability of a player like Jones on the trade market, and the unrestricted free agency of Stewart and Vandersloot, who are already considered all-time greats.
What makes this achievement even more extraordinary is that Stewart and Vandersloot were willing to accept salaries well below the supermax to join the Liberty, a testament to their collective commitment to pursuing a championship. Notably, the Liberty is the sole remaining original franchise in the WNBA never to have won a championship.
Kolb’s vision for this incredible roster transformation began early last year, and he executed it flawlessly during the offseason. The future also looks promising, with Kolb securing multiyear contract extensions for key players such as Ionescu, Laney, and the versatile Kayla Thornton.
The Liberty’s regular-season record of 32-8 is their best winning percentage in franchise history, an astonishing turnaround considering their struggles just a few years ago when they finished with a dismal 2-20 record in 2020 following Ionescu’s season-ending ankle injury. Furthermore, the Liberty claimed the Commissioner’s Cup championship in August, marking the franchise’s first championship of any kind.
Kolb attributes the team’s success to the unwavering commitment of everyone involved and their willingness to buy into the team’s vision. He expressed his admiration, saying, “Everybody is who they said they were, and that’s been the best gift of all.”
The roots of the Liberty’s modern-day success trace back to 2019 when Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai purchased the franchise, which had previously played games outside the city in Westchester County. Kolb was hired shortly after, and the front. office embarked on a mission to relocate the team to Brooklyn, elevate its profile in the city, and transform it into a premier franchise with top-notch facilities, an expanded performance staff, and other resources not commonly found in the WNBA.
Reflecting on the franchise’s growth, Kolb remarked, “I think this is right on time with our plan that we had in place. It’s not all the time that plans meet the end that you had hoped for, but this one did, and we couldn’t be more excited.”
The Liberty, seeded second, are now poised to begin their playoff journey, starting with a matchup against the seventh-seeded Washington Mystics. While New York hasn’t won a playoff series since 2015 and hasn’t advanced to the WNBA Finals since 2002, their roster boasts players with extensive championship experience. Stewart, Vandersloot, and Jones, in particular, bring valuable championship pedigree to the team, making them a formidable force in the postseason.
Kolb expressed confidence in his team, stating, “You’ve got extensive playoff experience, especially amongst our starting group. They know what the mission is and they’re ready to attack it together.” The Liberty’s remarkable journey from the brink of irrelevance to championship contention is a testament to Jonathan Kolb’s exceptional leadership and vision.