Tanisha Wright spent the 2016 season once again displaying why she was one of the most versatile guards in the WNBA and a player indispensable by the Liberty. Heading into the year, Wright was prepared to slide over to play the 2-guard position, after running the point for much of 2015, her first season in New York.
After the Liberty got off to a bit of a slow start in May, Wright was back at the point, both facilitating and finding a way to use her offensive skills when the opportunity arose.
She anchored the defense, leading to her being named All-Defensive Second Team once again, as New York posted a league-leading defensive field goal percentage of just .413. Wright also went on to finish the season ranked 16th in the league in assists, averaging 3.6 per game.
It was a trying campaign at times for Wright, who first battled an elbow injury, then missed five games while recovering from a sprained MCL, tying for the fewest games played in her career; she also only saw action in 29 contests while playing for the Storm in 2014, but maintained her high level of play despite the physical setbacks.
Through it, she continued to battle and surpass milestones. Closing in on 400-career games played, Wright scored her 3,000th point and also surpassed 1,000-career rebounds, and is one of just 10 players in league history to have 3,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,200 assists. Her 1,231 career assists rank 13th in the history of the WNBA.
KEY PERFORMANCES
June 22 @ Atlanta
Filled up the stat sheet with 12 points to go along with a season-high 8 assists, with 5 rebounds and 2 steals in a win at Atlanta
July 6 vs. Seattle
Led the Liberty in scoring with 18 points knocking down 7-of-13 field goal attempts in a home win over the Storm
September 24 vs. Phoenix
Wright matched her career playoff high of 21 points, shooting 10-of-14 from the field with 5 assists against Phoenix in the second round
TANISHA WRIGHT SCORES 3,000TH POINT
Sinking a free throw with 15.1 remaining in an 88-85 win over the Chicago Sky on July 8, Liberty guard Tanisha Wright scored her 3,000th-career point, her second big milestone of the season, as she secured her 1,000th-career rebound in the Liberty’s win over Dallas on June 14. A 12-year veteran of the league, Wright is on a very rare list, as one of just 10 players in WNBA history to score at least 3,000 points, with 1,000 rebounds and 1,200 assists.
WRIGHT NAMED SECOND-TEAM ALL-DEFENSIVE
For the second-straight season Liberty guard Tanisha Wright was named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team, for her role in helping to anchor one of the best defensive units in the league. Wright appeared in 29 games, making 28 starts, helping the Liberty post the league’s best defensive field goal percentage (.413). Being named All-Defensive is nothing new for Wright, who was a First-Team selection as a member with the Seattle Storm in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013. One of the signature plays of the season was her block of an Odyssey Sims 3-point attempt near the end of regulation in a New York win over Dallas on June 14.