With her international duties fulfilled, the New York Liberty are set to welcome back one of their most familiar faces.
BROOKLYN-The New York Liberty are starting to hear the thunder, as an old friend from a Land Down Under is making her way back.
New York’s injury report, released on Saturday afternoon in advance of Sunday’s Brooklyn-based contest against the Dallas Wings (2 p.m. ET, YES App), continues to feature Rebecca Allen, but the Australia native’s departure has a new, promising explanation. While previously labeled as “not with the team”, Allen is now listed as being engaged in “Return to Play Protocol”, hinting that her return to American action is not far off.
Allen, set to partake in her seventh season in seafoam, is by far the Liberty’s longest-tenured roster representative. The Liberty (1-2) have played their first three games sans Allen, who was fulfilling the remainder of her international basketball duties with Spanish club Valencia B.C. En route to guiding the Taronjas to a 25-5 record (second-best in Liga Femenina de Baloncesto), Allen led the team in scoring (11.5 points per game) and three-point percentage (48.3).
Over her time in New York, joining as a rookie free agent in 2015, Allen has developed in an all-around contributor. She was originally known for her defensive prowess thanks to a wide wingspan that earned her the nickname of “Spida” but has since developed a strong offensive game: last season saw her average a WNBA career-best 9.2 points per game and she was eighth in the league three-point percentage during the 2019 campaign. Allen’s defensive exploits have continued to garner headlines: she averaged 1.6 steals a game last season, good for fourth in the Association. Over the offseason, Allen inked a multi-year deal to remain in New York.
Upon her return, Allen would be the second player on the current Liberty roster to have previously worked with first-year head coach and fellow Australian native Sandy Brondello (the other being Sami Whitcomb). The two previously collaborated on the Australian national team, known as the Opals, in several international competitions, including last summer’s Olympics Games in Tokyo. Australia reached the knockout stage but lost to the United States in the quarterfinal round.
Alas for the Liberty, Allen wasn’t the only representative on Saturday’s injury report: sophomore star DiDi Richards was announced to be out for Sunday’s matinee due to a right hamstring issue that has sidelined her since the start of the season. Richards made her debut on Friday night in Brooklyn but was limited to only four minutes of the Liberty’s 92-86 overtime loss to the Indiana Fever.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
Baseline Sports NY is on Twitter @Baseline_NY
