What a night it was at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) for the 2024 WNBA Draft! This year’s class came with much-deserved buzz, sparking excitement around the basketball community, standing as a testament to the growth and advancement of women’s basketball.
With the entire basketball world watching, once the picks were in, our Liberty Loyals celebrated the selection of the 11th overall pick, Marquesha (Que) Davis out of Ole Miss. Additionally, we acquired the 17th (Esmery Martinez, Arizona), 23rd (Jessika Carter, Mississippi), and the 35th pick (Kaitlyn Davis, USC).
It was a night of dreams turning into reality, anticipation, and most importantly, building the future of our team.
WELCOME TO NEW YORK
With the 11th overall pick, we welcomed 6 foot, Arkansas native and Ole Miss guard, Marquesha (Que) Davis to the Liberty family. A true southern bell, but don’t let her soft-spokenness fool you! Que lets her game do all the talking. Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb stamped her as a talented player whose athleticism, length, creation off-the-dribble, and ability to get downhill all grade at the professional level. A dynamic player with skills that are sure to light up the court, Que is ready to make her mark in the Big Apple.
At the 17th pick, we added some firepower with 6’2 forward Esmery Martinez representing the Dominican Republic– from the University of Arizona. Esmery’s size, agility, and scoring ability make her a formidable force on both ends of the court, and we can’t wait to see her in action.
With the 23rd pick of the night, we acquired 6’5 center Jessika Carter from Mississippi State. Jessika brings a strong presence in the paint, along with solid rebounding and defensive skills that will bolster our front court.
Last but certainly not least, rounding out our draft selections is 6’2 forward Kaitlyn Davis from USC. Kaitlyn’s versatility and hustle on the court make her a perfect fit for our team’s style of play.
“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 added.
Kolb and Coach Sandy Brondello were all smiles as they deemed the night a resounding success. We’ve assembled a versatile group of players with unique skill sets that complement each other and fit perfectly into the style of play we love here in New York.
Congrats to the 2024 WNBA Draft Class—The future is looking BRIGHT! We look forward to seeing our Rooks light up the summer.