The New York Liberty had only one selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
With the 38th pick, the Liberty selected France native Adja Kane, a 20-year-old 6-foot-3 center. The Liberty initially had the No. 7 overall pick but traded it to the Connecticut Sun for Natasha Cloud.
Adja’s Stat Sheet
Adja Kane is currently playing for Landerneau Bretagne Basket in France’s LFB.
This season, she is averaging 4.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game and is most comfortable with shots from midrange and the post.
Adja previously represented France in the 2024 FIBA U20 Women’s EuroBasket, where she averaged 5.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, helping lead France to victory over 15 other countries. In 2023, Adja participated in the FIBA U18 Women’s Eurobasket and averaged 6.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
Contributions to the Liberty
The New York Liberty staff has decided to keep Adja overseas for a few more seasons to further develop her play. As of now, she tends to thrive more on the defensive end. On Friday, she notched her first double-double of the Eurobasket season with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Offensively, she has not shown promise for her future in the WNBA, but if she hones in on her defensive skills overseas, she can make a real impact. Landerneau Bretagne Basket is a team that is nothing to joke around about, and it’s the best place for Adja to be at the moment.
Liberty General Manager Jonathan Kolb said in an interview: “As an organization, we pride ourselves on embracing the global nature of the game and are proactive in assembling a deep group of international talent…We had a unique opportunity tonight to select Adja Kane, a talented young player from a strong program in France, who will continue to develop overseas for the next few years with our support from afar.”
Thinking Long Term
Adja is a powerful center that will come in handy for the Liberty, but not for a few years.
Their current roster is stacked with tough forwards and centers for the time being, including Leonie Fiebich, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones. In the 2024 WNBA season, the trio averaged 41.3 points per game together.
Both Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones have eight years of pro ball experience. This gives Adja Kane the chance to step in when the veterans start to slow down in a few years. Fiebich only has one year of WNBA play under her belt, so she will hopefully continue to grow with Adja as the seasons pass.
If Adja joins the WNBA before the previous talent leaves, it will give her the opportunity to learn more from Stewart and Jones on the offensive side.
Whenever the Liberty are ready to bring Adja Kane to the United States, she will surely be the next defensive powerhouse in the Big Apple.
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