There is no down time for the New York Liberty as many of the players gear up to play overseas now that their WNBA season has come to an end. This opportunity provides players the chance to continue working on their game, and hone specific skills while playing in a different environment in various locations across the globe.
The international season typically lasts 5-7 months depending on the league, after which players report back ready for another New York Liberty campaign.
Keep up with all of the Liberty’s world travelers this offseason as they #BurnBright all over the world.
REBECCA ALLEN
Melbourne, Australia (SEQ Stars)
Rebecca Allen is a rising star in the WNBA, while having some experience overseas, she is a forward with the Australian Opals, and has played with the Melbourne Boomers and the Dandenong Rangers in the WNBL. This season she will be playing with the SEQ Star team, which is a basketball club based in South East Queenslands. Last year, she was awarded the WNBL Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year award. Follow the team schedule and other events!
Social Media
Twitter: @SEQbasketball
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SEQ-Basketball-674965749296340/timeline/
#AllinSEQ
Official Site: https://seqbasketball.com.au/
EPIPHANNY PRINCE
Kursk, Russia (Dynamo Kursk)
Prince is not new to the travel and lifestyle of being overseas in WNBA offseason, having played internationally since 2009. She is heading back to Russia to play for the Dynamo Kursk Premier League for the 2015-16 season. Follow the team schedule and other events on their social media!
Social Media
Twitter: @KurskBasket
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dynamokursk
Official Site: http://kurskbasket.ru/
TINA CHARLES
Xinjiang, China (Xinjiang Tianshan)
Charles will be exploring a new part of the world as she heads to China to play for Xinjiang, who are the newcomers in the Chinese league. Last season she played in Turkey for Fenerbahce where she averaged 15.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game in the Euro League. The Chinese league ends slightly earlier than most offseason destinations, which should provide additional time for rest and recovery, and the opportunity to hone specific skills heading into the 2016 Liberty season and an Olympic Year, where she is expected to join Team USA in Brazil for the Summer Games.
KIAH STOKES
South Korea (Samsung Blue Minx)
This will be Stokes’ first time overseas with this being her Rookie Year in the WNBA. There was a draft that took place where 85 athletes applied for 12 spots in the South Korean league. Stokes was drafted 3rd a d will be playing on the Samsung Blue Minx team, with a season that also last approximately five months and features six teams across the country. Good luck Kiah! Follow the Samsung Blue Minx team on their official sites.
Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samsungblueminx
Official Site: http://www.samsungblueminx.com/
ESSENCE CARSON
Turkey (Canik Belediyesi)
Carson is a very experienced international player, as she is heading to Turkey to play with the Samsun Canik Belediyesi team. She has spent time in several different countries throughout Europe during her professional career, having played in France (Bourges), Hungary (UNI Gyor), Italy (Venezia), Latvia, Spain (Rivas Ecopolis) and Turkey (Istanbul Universitesi). Follow the team as they gear up for their season. Good luck Essence!
Social Media
Twitter: @canikbasket
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanikBasket
Official Site: http://www.canikbelediyespor.com/
CAROLYN SWORDS
Sydney, Australia (Uni Flames)
Swords has previously played professionally in Spain (Joventud Mariana and in Turkey (Ceyhan Bid and Istanbul Universitesi). However, she started to dominate internationally in 2014, when she played as the starting center for Acqua and then headed over to Italy to play for Sapone Umbertide, where she averaged 14 points and 7.6 rebounds and really developed that front court intensity that translated to a strong 2015 season in New York. This year she will be suiting up for the Sydney Uni Flames in Australia. Follow the team as they prepare for their season. Good luck Carolyn!
Social Media
Twitter: @SydUniFlames
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sydney-Uni-Flames-WNBL-268353206535218/timeline/
Site: http://basketball.australiabasket.com/team/Sydney_Uni_Flames/WNBL/Australia/8495
AVERY WARLEY-TALBERT
Turkey (Botas)
During the winter months, Avery has played several seasons in the Turkish Basketball League, competing for Orduspor, where she averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds to rank third in the league in rebounding, and last year she played in the Turkish second league for BGD where she averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds per game. This year, she will head back to Turkey to play for Botas, and aim to continue to develop a strong post presence. Follow the team as they gear up for their season. Good luck Avery!
Social Media
Twitter: @BotasSporKulubu
Facebook: http://https//www.facebook.com/botasspor1984
Official Site: http://www.botasspor.org.tr/