Last Updated on September 1, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The New York Liberty 2004 relied on Becky Hammon and Vickie Johnson as their primary offensive creators, with Crystal Robinson and Elena Baranova providing complementary scoring and veteran versatility. Baranova anchored the frontcourt on the glass while Hammon directed much of the playmaking. The statistics point to a deliberate, balanced team that competed through experience and shared contributions rather than an explosive offense, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals despite modest overall efficiency.
Roster
| NO. | PLAYER | POS. | HT. | WT. | BIRTH DATE | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Crystal Robinson | F | 5-11 | 155 | January 22, 1974 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University |
| 5 | Erin Thorn | G | 5-9 | 145 | May 19, 1981 | BYU |
| 7 | La’Keshia Frett | F | 6-3 | 170 | June 12, 1975 | Georgia |
| 12 | Ann Wauters | C | 6-4 | 193 | October 12, 1980 | |
| 20 | Shameka Christon | G | 6-3 | 192 | February 15, 1982 | Arkansas |
| 24 | Tari Phillips | F-C | 6-2 | 200 | March 6, 1970 | Georgia, Central Florida |
| 25 | Becky Hammon | G | 5-6 | 136 | March 11, 1977 | Colorado State |
| 28 | Elena Baranova | F | 6-5 | 182 | January 28, 1972 | |
| 30 | DeTrina White | F | 5-11 | 180 | April 3, 1980 | LSU |
| 32 | K.B. Sharp | G | 5-9 | 149 | April 18, 1981 | Cincinnati |
| 41 | Bethany Donaphin | F-C | 6-2 | 195 | August 27, 1980 | Stanford |
| 55 | Vickie Johnson | G-F | 5-9 | 150 | April 15, 1972 | Louisiana Tech |
Regular Season Per Game
| PLAYER NAME | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becky Hammon | — | 27 | 34 | 34 | 33.2 | 13.5 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 3.5 | 10.4 | 4.5 | .432 | 5.0 | 1.7 | .335 | 3.4 | 2.9 | .836 |
| Elena Baranova | — | 32 | 34 | 33 | 30.8 | 11.6 | 7.2 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 9.3 | 4.3 | .463 | 3.4 | 1.6 | .461 | 1.6 | 1.4 | .925 |
| Crystal Robinson | — | 30 | 28 | 27 | 31.8 | 12.1 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 10.0 | 4.4 | .437 | 5.1 | 2.0 | .382 | 1.5 | 1.4 | .930 |
| Vickie Johnson | — | 32 | 34 | 34 | 32.9 | 9.4 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 8.6 | 3.6 | .413 | 1.8 | 0.5 | .283 | 2.1 | 1.8 | .886 |
| Shameka Christon | — | 22 | 33 | 4 | 17.0 | 5.8 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 5.7 | 2.0 | .354 | 2.5 | 0.7 | .293 | 1.5 | 1.0 | .647 |
| Bethany Donaphin | — | 23 | 26 | 16 | 18.4 | 5.0 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 4.1 | 1.9 | .462 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 1.3 | .541 | |
| La’Keshia Frett | — | 29 | 16 | 2 | 17.3 | 6.4 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 5.3 | 2.6 | .482 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 1.3 | .645 | |
| Tari Phillips | — | 34 | 13 | 13 | 23.9 | 6.7 | 5.4 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 7.3 | 2.5 | .347 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 1.6 | .457 | |
| Ann Wauters | — | 23 | 13 | 4 | 20.8 | 6.3 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 5.1 | 2.2 | .439 | 0.2 | 0.1 | .333 | 2.2 | 1.8 | .793 |
| DeTrina White | — | 24 | 31 | 2 | 13.5 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 1.2 | .544 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | .471 | |
| Erin Thorn | — | 23 | 17 | 1 | 9.2 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 0.7 | .267 | 1.8 | 0.5 | .290 | 0.1 | 0.1 | .500 |
| K.B. Sharp | — | 23 | 30 | 0 | 8.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | .243 | 0.4 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.4 | 0.4 | .917 |
Playoff Per Game
| PLAYER NAME | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Robinson | — | 30 | 5 | 5 | 35.0 | 15.0 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 11.6 | 5.8 | .500 | 6.6 | 2.6 | .394 | 1.0 | 0.8 | .800 |
| Becky Hammon | — | 27 | 5 | 5 | 35.6 | 10.6 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 10.2 | 4.0 | .392 | 6.6 | 2.2 | .333 | 1.0 | 0.4 | .400 |
| La’Keshia Frett | — | 29 | 5 | 0 | 23.2 | 8.8 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 9.6 | 4.0 | .417 | 0.2 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.000 |
| Elena Baranova | — | 32 | 5 | 5 | 30.8 | 8.4 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 7.6 | 3.0 | .395 | 2.6 | 0.8 | .308 | 2.0 | 1.6 | .800 |
| Vickie Johnson | — | 32 | 5 | 5 | 32.2 | 8.2 | 4.4 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 7.8 | 2.8 | .359 | 2.0 | 0.4 | .200 | 2.4 | 2.2 | .917 |
| Shameka Christon | — | 22 | 5 | 0 | 12.6 | 5.6 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 4.2 | 1.6 | .381 | 2.8 | 1.2 | .429 | 1.8 | 1.2 | .667 |
| Bethany Donaphin | — | 23 | 5 | 5 | 19.2 | 4.4 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | .400 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | .400 | |
| K.B. Sharp | — | 23 | 5 | 0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | .400 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Erin Thorn | — | 23 | 2 | 0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.000 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| DeTrina White | — | 24 | 5 | 0 | 6.8 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | .200 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becky Hammon | Starter/Star (1.1) | 33.2 | High (1.2) | 13.5 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 1.8 | 60.19 | Hammon became the Liberty’s primary offensive creator, combining pick-and-roll playmaking with confident perimeter shooting. Her expanded responsibility as a starting guard reflected growing trust in her ability to control tempo and generate offense while handling heavy defensive pressure. | WNBA All-Star (2005) |
| Elena Baranova | Starter/Star (1.1) | 30.8 | High (1.2) | 11.6 | 7.2 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 59.14 | Baranova gave New York a rare stretch-frontcourt skill set, spacing the floor with three-point shooting while protecting the rim defensively. Her rebounding, passing, and shot-blocking versatility allowed the Liberty to play more flexible lineups. | Olympic Bronze Medalist (2004); EuroLeague Champion (2003) |
| Crystal Robinson | Starter/Star (1.1) | 31.8 | High (1.2) | 12.1 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 47.52 | Robinson continued as a dependable two-way wing, using perimeter shooting and veteran defensive instincts to balance the lineup. Her ability to create offense without dominating possessions remained important alongside Hammon’s increased role. | WNBA All-Star (2003) |
| Vickie Johnson | Starter/Star (1.1) | 32.9 | Medium (1.1) | 9.4 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 38.72 | Johnson provided steady secondary playmaking and perimeter defense, often taking difficult assignments while helping move the ball. Her leadership and versatility remained valuable as New York adjusted around a changing roster. | WNBA All-Star (2003, 2005) |
| Tari Phillips | Key Contributor (1.05) | 23.9 | Medium (1.1) | 6.7 | 5.4 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 32.55 | Phillips brought physical interior play in a reduced role, using rebounding strength and defensive positioning to impact possessions. Even with fewer minutes, her toughness remained a key part of New York’s frontcourt depth. | WNBA All-Star (2003); All-WNBA Second Team (2003) |
| Ann Wauters | Key Contributor (1.05) | 20.8 | Medium (1.1) | 6.3 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 25.01 | Wauters showed flashes of her offensive skill as a young international frontcourt talent, providing efficient scoring and passing from the post. Her development added another skilled interior option to the Liberty rotation. | WNBA All-Star (2005); EuroLeague MVP (2001) |
| Bethany Donaphin | Key Contributor (1.05) | 18.4 | Low (1.0) | 5.0 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 19.95 | Donaphin contributed as a versatile reserve forward, giving New York energy, rebounding, and physical defense. Her increased starts showed the coaching staff’s confidence in her ability to handle larger responsibilities. | — |
| La’Keshia Frett | Bench (1.0) | 17.3 | Low (1.0) | 6.4 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 20.40 | Frett provided frontcourt scoring off the bench, relying on strength and interior finishing. Her role was focused on bringing offensive production and toughness during reserve minutes. | — |
| Shameka Christon | Bench (1.0) | 17.0 | Low (1.0) | 5.8 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 18.40 | Christon worked as an athletic wing reserve, offering defensive activity and occasional perimeter scoring. Her rookie season was centered on learning the pace of the professional game while contributing in limited stretches. | WNBA All-Rookie Team (2004) |
| DeTrina White | Bench (1.0) | 13.5 | Low (1.0) | 2.6 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 14.60 | White provided interior depth through rebounding and physical play rather than offensive usage. Her efficiency around the basket helped her earn rotation minutes as a reserve big. | — |
| Erin Thorn | Bench (1.0) | 9.2 | Low (1.0) | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 6.60 | Thorn played limited guard minutes, mainly providing spacing and additional perimeter depth. Her role remained focused on development within a veteran-heavy backcourt. | — |
| K.B. Sharp | Bench (1.0) | 8.0 | Low (1.0) | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 6.00 | Sharp served as a reserve ball-handler, helping maintain offensive organization during short appearances. Her impact came more from facilitating than scoring. | — |
| Totals | — | 263.5 | — | 83.4 | 37.1 | 19.0 | 11.7 | 349.12 | The New York Liberty’s regular-season rotation blended Hammon’s emerging guard leadership with Baranova’s versatile frontcourt play, while veteran wings Johnson and Robinson provided stability on both ends. | — |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Robinson | Starter/Star (1.1) | 35.0 | High (1.2) | 15.0 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 60.72 | Robinson was New York’s most consistent perimeter scorer during the playoffs, combining three-point shooting with veteran shot-making. Her ability to attack smaller defenders and space the floor helped keep the Liberty’s offense functional against tighter postseason defenses. | WNBA All-Star (2003) |
| Elena Baranova | Starter/Star (1.1) | 30.8 | Medium (1.1) | 8.4 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 48.84 | Baranova impacted games through versatility, stretching the floor while protecting the rim and controlling the defensive glass. Her playoff role showcased the value of a frontcourt player who could rebound, pass, and defend multiple areas of the court. | Olympic Bronze Medalist (2004); EuroLeague Champion (2003) |
| Becky Hammon | Starter/Star (1.1) | 35.6 | High (1.2) | 10.6 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 44.88 | Hammon carried significant offensive responsibility as a starting guard, creating shots from deep and managing the offense under playoff pressure. Her willingness to take difficult perimeter attempts gave New York another creator alongside its veteran wings. | WNBA All-Star (2005) |
| La’Keshia Frett | Key Contributor (1.05) | 23.2 | Medium (1.1) | 8.8 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 32.34 | Frett provided physical scoring off the bench, using strength in the paint and aggressive rebounding to change the energy of games. Her reserve role gave New York additional interior offense when the starters needed support. | — |
| Vickie Johnson | Starter/Star (1.1) | 32.2 | Medium (1.1) | 8.2 | 4.4 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 30.80 | Johnson filled a connector role during the postseason, contributing rebounding, secondary playmaking, and defensive versatility. Even when her shot was inconsistent, her ability to impact multiple areas allowed New York to maintain lineup balance. | WNBA All-Star (2003, 2005) |
| Bethany Donaphin | Key Contributor (1.05) | 19.2 | Low (1.0) | 4.4 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 18.48 | Donaphin gave the Liberty a physical defensive presence, using activity and toughness rather than offensive volume. Her five starts reflected the trust placed in her ability to handle difficult matchups during the playoff run. | — |
| Shameka Christon | Bench (1.0) | 12.6 | Low (1.0) | 5.6 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 18.40 | Christon brought athletic perimeter energy in limited minutes, combining three-point shooting with defensive activity. As a young wing, her playoff role focused on providing bursts of scoring and intensity. | WNBA All-Rookie Team (2004) |
| DeTrina White | Bench (1.0) | 6.8 | Low (1.0) | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 4.40 | White saw brief playoff minutes as a reserve forward, mainly contributing through rebounding effort and defensive positioning. | — |
| K.B. Sharp | Bench (1.0) | 4.0 | Low (1.0) | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 4.40 | Sharp provided short stretches of ball-handling and perimeter depth, helping maintain offensive structure when the main guards rested. | — |
| Erin Thorn | Bench (1.0) | 1.5 | Low (1.0) | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.00 | Thorn appeared briefly during the postseason, with her role limited to emergency perimeter depth. | — |
| Totals | — | 200.7 | — | 73.9 | 25.8 | 14.8 | 11.8 | 266.24 | The New York Liberty’s playoff rotation relied on veteran perimeter shot creation from Robinson and Hammon, Baranova’s frontcourt versatility, and defensive toughness from role players like Donaphin and Frett. | — |