The Liberty entered the 2024 WNBA Draft needing to address their perimeter defense and the team accomplished that by selecting Ole Miss guard Marquesha Davis with the 11th overall pick.
“Honestly, what excites me the most is going to a veteran team and learning from the vets that are there,” Davis said moments after being drafted.
Davis could fit Sandy Brondello’s team by adding point of attack defense that sometimes wasn’t available while Second Team All-Defensive selection Betnijah Laney and Kayla Thornton weren’t on the floor. Davis added that she’ll take the opportunity to learn from the two stout defenders on the team.
“Marquesha is a talented player whose athleticism, length, creation off-the-dribble, and ability to get downhill all grade at the WNBA level, and she has all of the physical tools to develop into an elite perimeter defender,” said Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb in a press release.
Davis, a 6-0 tough defender who plays well in transition, fills a role that needed bolstering coming off the Liberty’s 2023 season. She spent three seasons in Arkansas before finishing her final two years at Ole Miss. In her fifth college season, she averaged 14.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
She started all 33 games for the Rebels last season and earned First-Team All SEC honors.
The Liberty were on the clock again with the 17th pick and selected Arizona forward Esmery Martinez. The 6-2 forward adds her rebounding prowess to a team that rebounded well in 2023. She averaged 13.6 points and 8.3 boards in five college seasons with West Virginia (three) and Arizona (two).
“Esmery is an accomplished collegiate player with a defensive-first mentality,” Kolb said. “Her strength, versatility, and anticipation are all pro-level, and we very much look forward to watching her compete in training camp.”
Her most dominant college season came as a sophomore in West Virginia when she averaged 13.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per game.
The Liberty used the 23rd pick in the second round on Mississippi State center Jessika Carter. The rim protector redshirted a year and played five seasons with the Bulldogs. In her final college season, she averaged 14.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. Carter joins the WNBA after being selected to two All-SEC teams.
“Jessika is a strong rim protector and rebounder with next-level finishing ability. We are eager to see her compete against our championship caliber frontcourt,” Kolb added.
The team picked guard-forward Kaitlyn Davis with its last pick (35th overall, third round) of the night. She most recently represented USC as a graduate student and averaged 6.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
“By securing Kaitlyn’s draft rights, she will have the opportunity to continue to develop and compete for a spot on the Liberty as soon as the 2025 season. Her athleticism in the frontcourt, dynamic playmaking ability, and rim protection make her an exciting future prospect,” Kolb said.
“We are excited to add this versatile group, both in the immediate and future, with unique skillsets that fit our style of play here in New York,” added Brondello in a press release.
