First 3 Selections in 2015 No. 16 overall No. 27 overall No. 35 overall

Last 3 First Round Picks (Pick, Year) Alyssa Thomas (4, 2014) Kelsey Bone (5, 2013) Kelley Cain (7, 2012)

The New York Liberty have missed out on the postseason for the past two seasons, going 11-23 in 2013 and 15-19 in 2014 under head coach Bill Laimbeer. Now in his third season in New York, Laimbeer is faced with the task of guiding the Liberty back to the playoffs, and the team has already made moves this offseason to try and help that cause.

The biggest move off the offseason was New York trading the former face of the franchise, Cappie Pondexter, to Chicago in February in exchange for Epiphanny Prince, a New York native. Liberty Senior Vice President of Business and Basketball Operations Kristin Bernert said Prince’s addition was a “great boost for the franchise.”

“Epiphanny is a great talent and one of the top guards in the WNBA,” Laimbeer told NewYorkLiberty.com. “She’s a great competitor and possesses a high basketball IQ, which are attributes that will serve her well in the transition into our system.”

In addition to acquisition of Prince, the Liberty locked up some savvy veterans. They re-signed Swin Cash, who was traded to the Liberty halfway through the 2014 season, and they inked free agent guard Candice Wiggins to a contract. Laimbeer believes Wiggins’ ability to play multiple positions will add another dynamic to his team.

When it comes to the WNBA Draft, however, the Liberty won’t have the luxury of adding to its roster with a first-round pick since they traded that pick to Connecticut last year in the blockbuster move for its current franchise center Tina Charles. Instead, the Liberty will have to wait until the second round to take a stab at the 2015 pool of prospects. It’s unlikely that a franchise cornerstone will be in the cards when the Liberty is on the clock with the No. 16 pick, but they’ll have their choice of many serviceable talents.