Swin Cash concluded one of the most successful and decorated careers in women’s basketball history while wearing a New York Liberty uniform in 2016. While continually making huge contributions on and off the floor, Cash regularly showed why her career will be remembered as one of the best ever (a notion that was certainly backed up by her being named one of the league’s Top-20 Players of the first 20 seasons of the WNBA).
Cash appeared in 31 games, making 23 starts, in 2016, and saw her production improve from a year ago, her first season in New York, as she averaged 5.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, while averaging 19.6 minutes per contest. She enjoyed some of her best moments on the court over two-plus seasons in New York, eclipsing 5,000 career points, with several big individual performances in some Liberty wins.
Her impact will continue to be felt for years to come for the leadership she passed on and the championship foundation she helped establish. With Cash in the starting lineup over the past two seasons, New York enjoyed one of its best two-season stretches in franchise history. In 2015 the Liberty set a franchise record with 23 wins, and followed that up with a 21-13 mark in 2016, meaning the team went 44-24 over Cash’s two full seasons in NYC.
KEY PERFORMANCES
June 11 @ San Antonio
Pulled down 10 rebounds and nearly posted a double-double with 8 points
June 22 at Atlanta
Scored in double figures for the 1st time, netting 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting
July 17 vs. Connecticut
Led the Liberty in scoring with 16 points, going 6-of-9 from the field, her highest point total as a member of the Liberty
SWIN CASH HONORED WITH STAR-STUDDED RETIREMENT CEREMONY AT THE GARDEN
The New York Liberty held a retirement ceremony to honor the incredible career of Swin Cash, immediately following its game against the Seattle Storm on Sept. 7. The impressive event included speeches from WNBA President Lisa Borders, Tina Thompson, Sue Bird, Tina Charles, Tanisha Wright, Bill Laimbeer, and Isiah Thomas.
• Earlier this year, Cash was named one of the WNBA’s 20 greatest and most influential players in its history, having won three WNBA Championships (2003, 2006, 2010), two Olympic gold medals (2004, 2012) and two NCAA Championships (2000, 2002).
• Cash ended her career ranked in the top-15 in WNBA history in scoring, rebounding, assists, and games played.
• She is one of two players in league history to amass more than 5,000 points, 2,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists, the other being Tamika Catchings, who also retired at the end of the 2016 season.
SWIN CASH ECLIPSES 5,000-CAREER POINTS
Cash became the 14th player in WNBA history to score 5,000 points in her career when she drove to the rim for two in the first quarter at Connecticut on June 16. Cash was a versatile player throughout her career and is just the 2nd player to have 5,000 points, 2,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists. The only other is also active, and also has announced her retirement at the end of this season – Tamika Catchings has 7,380 points, 3,316 rebounds, and 1,488 assists. Cash also ranks fourth in games played (479) and 7th in rebounds (2,521).
CASH HAULS IN SEASON-HIGH 10 BOARDS AT SAN ANTONIO
Cash narrowly missed out on recording a double-double in the Liberty win at San Antonio on June 11, finishing with eight points and a season-high 10 rebounds. In fact, the 10 boards were a personal best for Cash as a member of the Liberty. It was her 38th regular season game with at least 10 rebounds, but her first since she had 14 boards on July 2, 2013. She is the eighth player in WNBA history to have at least 10 rebounds in a game for at least four different franchises (Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Michelle Snow, Chamique Holdsclaw, Betty Lennox, Wendy Palmer, Sheri Sam, and Ann Wauters.)
TURN BACK THE CLOCK
Cash turned in a vintage performance in the Liberty’s win over the Connecticut Sun on July 17, scoring a team-high 16 points with six rebounds. She shot 6-of-9 from the field and also had two assists and two steals. It was the most points Cash has scored in a Liberty uniform, and her highest scoring output since netting 16 as a member of the Chicago Sky on Sept. 8, 2013. It was also the first time she led her team in scoring since finishing with 18 points for Chicago on Aug. 15, 2013.