Leonie Fiebich’s Case for WNBA Sixth Player of the Year, Explained

NEW YORK — Leonie Fiebich is used to being a star. The 24-year-old has twice been named MVP of the Spanish league and has averaged double figures in each of her professional seasons in Europe.

But as a member of the New York Liberty in her first WNBA season, the German forward has shown she can shine in any role — not just the star. She’s come off the bench 23 times this season, averaging 21 minutes per game. Sometimes she’s taken just a few shots, simply acting as a connector and giving her All-Star teammates the upper hand. Other times, she’s taken over the offense, scoring double figures and shooting three-pointers.

Her presence is a welcome addition to an already loaded Liberty roster. The German star was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2020, but the Liberty traded her rights just a few years ago. When she signed a rookie contract in February, it wasn’t entirely clear what kind of impact she could have on the team in her first season. It was a relatively unnoticed addition to an organization rebounding from a Finals loss.

Now, just half a year later, it’s clear that Fiebich is not only a game-changer, but also a very viable candidate for Sixth Player of the Year. She hasn’t missed a beat in her transition from primary scorer to role player.

“I don’t think it was too hard for me because I’m a team player anyway,” she told SB Nation. “It wasn’t that big of a change.”

Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello loves being asked about Fiebich’s impact on the team. She compares her rookie’s play to that of DeWanna Bonner, the fourth-leading scorer in WNBA history. She compliments her ability to slot into multiple formations and provide instant energy when checking in. And the numbers match up with the eye test — Fiebiech has the 7th-highest plus-minus of any WNBA player and the highest of any substitute.

“She’s been great for us,” Brondello said. “That’s an understatement, she’s been great for us on both ends of the floor.”

Increasing the versatility of the league’s best team

Leonie Fiebich called three-point shooting her greatest strength. She has shot 43.8% this season, the second-best percentage of any player in the WNBA averaging at least one made three-pointer. Since the Olympic break, that three-point percentage has skyrocketed to 55%, also the second-best percentage.

Yet her greatest passion is defense, and when she comes back into the game after a few minutes, she focuses on that side of the field.

“(I) just bring energy, honestly, especially on defense,” Fiebich said. “Because when you play a lot of minutes, like our starters (do), it’s cool to have someone that’s just energetic and presses the ball and is aggressive on defense.”

She has benefited this season from playing with the league’s most effective lineup, regularly sharing the court with All-Stars Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones. She has also helped make New York incredibly difficult to defend.

“We’re so interchangeable, so versatile,” Fiebich said. “When you play with Stewie, for example, you can play basically any position. Sabrina’s a great shooter and JJ is just so dominant under the basket. There’s always an option, no matter what the defense is trying to take away. So that’s pretty cool to watch and play in.”

Brondello has acknowledged and highlighted how Fiebich can play alongside and complement anyone, which is one of the reasons she has been given more minutes in recent weeks.

“Leo adapts to wherever you want her to be and I think that’s her beauty,” she told reporters last month.

Adjusting to the WNBA

Fiebich’s impact in her debut season came as no surprise to teammate Breanna Stewart.

“I knew what she did when she was in the Spanish league,” Stewart told SB Nation. “We have mutual friends. Just the way she comes in — her height, her size, her ability to stretch the floor…”

Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images

Ultimately, her Sixth Player of the Year nomination and her numbers are somewhat swayed by her slow start to the season. There’s a reason rookies rarely get the honor (only three have won in WNBA history). She scored just 20 points in all of May as she adjusted to the league, playing single-digit minutes in half of those games. Since the Olympics, Fiebich’s numbers have improved dramatically: she’s averaging 8.8 points on 57.8% shooting.

“It took her a while to get used to the game, the physicality here in the W, and build her confidence and what this team needed,” Stewart said.

Fiebich is undoubtedly one of New York’s most important players heading into the postseason. When Betnijah Laney-Hamilton was out for several weeks due to midseason knee surgery, it was Fiebich who stepped in frequently, helping Liberty keep winning.

Author’s Note: This article is part of a series that takes a closer look at the Candidates for WNBA Sixth Player of the YearSimilar stories have been written about Tiffany Hayes of the Las Vegas Aces And Sophie Cunningham of the Phoenix Mercury.