Sugar Rodgers brings one of the most diverse skill sets to the guard position in the WNBA, and in 2017 she also displayed both her ability and willingness to take on any role the team needed her to play. With a number of lineup changes through the 1st half of the season due to injuries and teammates missing time overseas, Rodgers went in and out of the starting lineup, playing multiple positions an doing whatever was needed when her number was called.
SUGAR RODGERS 2017 SEASON STATS
| GM | MIN | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3FG | 3FGA | 3FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS |
| 33 | 25.6 | 120 | 354 | .339 | 63 | 184 | .342 | 44 | 54 | .815 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 10.5 |
Along the way, Rodgers was recognized with her 1st-ever All-Star nod, representing the Eastern Conference in Seattle, which also provided one of the most exciting highlights of the season. During halftime of the All-Star game Rodgers delighted an electric crowd at Key Arena by finishing 1st in the opening round of the 3-point shootout. Although she was the runner-up to Allie Quigley in the finals, her prolific 1st round where she hit 9-straight threes was the most impressive run of the day.
At the end of the season Rodgers was named the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, recognition for her leadership of the Liberty’s 2nd unit. At the midway point of the season, Rodgers was called upon to provide a scoring burst from the bench, an uncommon ask for a player who was one of the best 3-point shooters in the WNBA and averaged nearly 15 points per game the year before.
Rodgers became that spark and more for New York, helping the Liberty post a 14-3 record over the 2nd half of the year and wrap up a third-straight 20-win season and WNBA Playoffs berth.
Rodgers set a Liberty single-season record in 2016 with 86 3-pointers and added 63 more to her career tally this season, moving up to 8th place in franchise history with 214 triples. Three-point shooting told just a part of the story however, as Rodgers also averaged 3.8 rpg, 2.3 apg, and 0.5 bpg, ranking in the top-40 in the WNBA in scoring, rebounding, 3-pointers, assists, steals, and blocked shots.
SUGAR RODGERS 2017 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
May 26 at Seattle
Rodgers was on fire for New York’s 1st trip to Seattle, nailing 6 3-pointers, which was one shy of the franchise single-game record she set the season before, to finish with 21 points.
June 11 vs. Seattle
In the second meeting with the Storm Rodgers starred yet again, albeit in a slightly different manner. She still topped 20 points, finishing with 21 yet again, but also had 5 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocked shots.
August 23 at Indiana
Looking to wrap up a bye in the WNBA Playoffs, the Liberty win at Indiana in their penultimate road game. Rodgers scored 16 points with a pair of 3-pointers and hauled in 7 rebounds.