As the WNBA pauses its regular season to allow players to compete in the 2024 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, one franchise stands out for its unprecedented international presence: the New York Liberty. No other WNBA club will send more players to the tournament, kicking off September 4 in Berlin, than the Liberty, whose roster has become a microcosm of global basketball talent mirroring the cultural diversity of its home city.
Currently, the Liberty’s active roster features athletes hailing from eight different nations across four continents: France, Nigeria, China, Germany, Australia, Spain, the Bahamas, and the United States. Of these, seven players have earned spots on their respective national teams for the World Cup. The only exception is Germany’s Satou Sabally, who remains sidelined from the tournament as she continues recovering from a concussion sustained earlier this season.
Describing the team’s uniquely international makeup, star forward Breanna Stewart compared the Liberty’s locker room to a global diplomatic body. “It truly is like the United Nations here,” Stewart said of the diverse backgrounds of her teammates.
The team’s current multicultural composition marks a stark shift from even a decade ago, according to Australian forward Rebecca Allen, the Liberty’s longest-tenured player who first joined the franchise back in 2015. When Allen first arrived in New York, she was the only international player on the entire roster. While she recalled being embraced by her teammates and staff immediately, the current depth of global representation is a transformative change for the organization.
“I was the only foreigner on the team back then. Everyone made me feel welcome, but now it’s different with so many countries represented here,” Allen explained.
For first-year WNBA forward Pauline Astier, who will suit up for France alongside Liberty teammate Marine Johannes at the World Cup, this built-in global community has made the transition to playing professional basketball in a new country far smoother than expected. Astier noted that the inclusive, diverse environment within the Liberty has helped her adapt to cultural changes and new on-court dynamics without the isolation that many international rookies experience when joining North American leagues.
The Liberty’s standout World Cup delegation is more than just a fun team fact—it underscores a broader, ongoing shift across the entire WNBA: the league’s rapid growth into a truly global competition that attracts top talent from every corner of the world. To celebrate this unique identity, Allen has already floated a lighthearted idea for when the team reunites after the World Cup concludes: a team potluck where every player brings a traditional dish from their home country to share.
Beyond the New York roster, the AP’s latest weekly WNBA power poll and player awards brought new updates to the 2024 regular season narrative. The Golden State Valkyries climbed to the top spot in the power rankings after a perfect 4-0 road week, which included a statement win over the previously top-ranked Minnesota Lynx. Minnesota dropped to third place, with the Las Vegas Aces moving into second. The top five was rounded out by Atlanta and Indiana, followed by New York at sixth, Dallas at seventh, and Washington at eighth. Portland, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago, Connecticut, Seattle, and Toronto closed out the 13-team rankings.
The week also saw Atlanta Dream rookie Angel Reese continue her historic inaugural season, breaking a new WNBA single-season record. After notching 26 rebounds to set a single-game franchise record just days earlier, Reese earned her 29th double-double of the 2024 season against Minnesota, surpassing the previous single-season record of 28 set by Alyssa Thomas back in 2023. Finally, Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton was named the Associated Press Player of the Week for her dominant performance in the team’s four undefeated road wins. Burton averaged 11.3 points, 8.8 assists, and 2 steals per game over the stretch, earning the award over other notable nominees including Indiana’s Caitlin Clark, Atlanta’s Angel Reese, Los Angeles’ Nneka Ogwumike, and Washington’s Kiki Iriafen.