Stefanie Dolson agrees to terms on multiyear deal with New York Liberty

Stefanie Dolson has agreed to terms on a multiyear deal with the New York Liberty, a league source confirmed to the Sun-Times.

A two-time WNBA All-Star and native of New York, Dolson joined the Sky in 2017 in a trade that sent Elena Delle Donne to the Washington Mystics for Dolson and Kahleah Copper. In five seasons with the Sky, Dolson averaged 10 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 133 games.

Last season, Dolson was invaluable for the title-winning Sky, averaging 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24 games. Playing alongside the Sky’s talented backcourt, specifically Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot, Dolson’s reputation as one of the best pick-and-roll bigs was further solidified.

In New York, she will join a young, talented group headlined by guard Sabrina Ionescu swing player Betnijah Laney and coach Sandy Brondello.

Dolson has already begun celebrating her new beginning, as she put it, sharing various congratulatory posts on her Instagram.

Replacing Dolson will not be an easy task for the Sky because, as coach and general manager James Wade has said in the past, she brings more than what is seen on the court. According to HerHoopStats.com, the Sky are working with $908,215 in cap space.

On Jan. 12, Wade used the core designation on Copper, which comes with a one-year supermax qualifying offer worth $228,094. Assuming Vandersloot and Quigley return for similar salaries as they earned in 2021, the Sky will have close to $300,000 left to use on four contracts.

The Sky will need to find a player that can replace Dolson’s production playing behind Candace Parker and Azurá Stevens.