The New York Liberty is an extremely successful WNBA team. The coaches and players work hard to make sure that once the season is here, they are at their best.
The team gets much recognition for their outstanding performance, some more than others. One of the key players on the Liberty is top post, Plenette Pierson.
Before the WNBA
Before the WNBA, Plenette Pierson was becoming known for her skills at Texas Tech University. As a freshman she started all 33 games and was named the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year. She also averaged 13.6 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game, and led the team in blocked shots with 25.
Her sophomore season saw much of the same consistent play. She started 31 of 32 games and was named to the All-Big 12 Conference Second Team. Pierson also scored in double figures 23 of 32 games and had 8 double-doubles during the season.
Her junior season was a difficult one as she only played 4 games before being suspended for the rest of the season for conduct detrimental to the team. Pierson came back stronger than ever in her senior year, and averaged 17.8 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game. During this season, she was also named to the All-Big 12 First Team.
Last Season
Pierson was very productive last season, given the fact that she transferred teams after the season had already started. That adjustment can be hard for anyone especially after the beginning phases of team bonding have already been started. Pierson played 8 games with the Tulsa shock before coming to the Liberty.
While she was with the Shock, she was known for her intensity and aggressiveness, and she averaged 15.8 minutes per game. Although this time doesn’t seem like much, Pierson was extremely productive in that time. She averaged 12.1 points per game, 2.5 rebounds per game, and 1.2 steals per game.
After switching teams, Pierson played in 25 games with the Liberty. She averaged 16.7 minutes per game. In those 16 minutes she averaged 9 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, and 1.1 assists per game. Her shooting was also pretty consistent as she was 45.8% from the field and 81.7% from the free throw line.
Playoffs
During the conference finals, Pierson was key in helping the team advance to the semifinals. In 2 games, she averaged about 26.5 minutes per game.
Her play during the season gave her an opportunity to do more during the playoffs. She averaged 15.5 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, and 1 assist per game. Pierson used the limited time she was given to make the most impact.
The Liberty made it to the conference semifinals where they played 3 games. In those 3 games, Pierson started one and averaged 15.7 minutes per game. Although her performance wasn’t as impacting as the conference finals, she was still instrumental in the team’s success. She averaged 7 points per game, 1 rebound per game, and 1.3 assists per game.
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