Exclusive | Ex-Liberty star Michaela Onyenwere tells The Post about her basketball double life
The Liberty’s former Rookie of the Year is having a bounce-back season and it only took a career pivot, a national championship and some consistency to get there.
Michaela Onyenwere, a Mystics forward, was drafted as the sixth overall pick by New York in 2021 and went on to claim the award after averaging 8.6 points across 32 games, including 29 starts.
However, her rookie momentum didn’t carry into the following season when she only started one game and averaged half the amount of points.
The Liberty ended up letting her go and Onyenwere went on to bounce around the league until UCLA women’s basketball head coach Cori Close called her former player to offer an assistant coach position for the 2025-26 team.
“If you would have asked me a year ago if I would be coaching, I would say there’s absolutely no way,” Onyenwere told The Post ahead of Friday’s 86-83 Mystics win over the Liberty at Barclays Center. “It was just a great opportunity. I love UCLA down. I would pick it over and over again.”
Michaela Onyenwere of the Washington Mystics drives to the basket during the game against the New York Liberty during the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup on June 14, 2026 at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. NBAE via Getty Images
At just 26, Onyenwere brought professional knowledge to the team and helped push the Bruins on to their first national championship. She then came to Washington simply for an opportunity to contribute consistently, unlike her other years in the league. It has seemingly made the difference in reviving her game.
Going into Friday, the forward was averaging a career-high 12.7 points and she continued with a strong showing against her former team, scoring 11 points.
“I’m really grateful for my journey but it would be nice to have something consistent,” she said. “I think that’s all, just the consistency of knowing what my coaches want from me, what my teammates expect from me, and just having confidence in it.”
Michaela Onyenwere, then with the New York Liberty, was the WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2021. NBAE via Getty Images
Sabrina Ionescu scored nine points Friday in her third game in a row. The star guard is continuing to work her game back up after missing three weeks of action due to back soreness.
“It’s tough because we don’t really practice,” Marine Johannes said of her teammate after the loss. “So, it’s hard for her maybe to come back and play like every two games, and we understand that. It’s not easy after a month out. We trust her. We know it can take time sometimes but she’s still Sab. She’s a great player.”
Ionescu was a minus-7 for the Liberty along with committing four turnovers against three assists.
Heading into Friday’s game, coach Chris DeMarco said he expects “ups and downs” as they ramp her up to get her in a rhythm for the first time this season.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (left knee management) was out Friday after she received an injection in her surgically repaired left knee.
DeMarco wanted to give her “one more day” and hoped she would play on the upcoming West Coast road trip.
