Leonie Fiebich is eyeing the title in her first WNBA season with the New York Liberty. The 24-year-old is aiming for the crown alongside Nyara Sabally. The German’s path to the spotlight was anything but easy.
Before Leonie Fiebich got her chance in the USA, she had to be patient. After being drafted in 2020, the Los Angeles Sparks and later the Chicago Sky passed over the German basketball talent – then the New York Liberty finally put their faith in the now 24-year-old. Now, rookie Fiebich is aiming for the title in the WNBA.
“Hard work pays off,” Fiebich told the German sports program Sportschau. The Finals series against the Minnesota Lynx begins on Friday night (2 a.m. CEST), and the ultimate reward awaits after a meteoric rise.
As a newcomer, the national team player has made a strong start, which isn’t entirely surprising – even though she had to wait.
… Three years ago, the forward from Landsberg am Lech moved from former German champion TSV Wasserburg to France (Flammes Carolo Basket Ardennes), then on to Australia (Warwick Senators) before joining Casademont Zaragoza.
Fiebich was named MVP of the Spanish Liga Femenina Endesa twice in a row, and then the Liberty came calling.
Fiebich: A Key Player for the New York Liberty
Her role in North America grew gradually. “It took a little while,” the Paris Olympian says in retrospect, “but that wasn’t a bad thing at all. It allowed me to get used to the routines.”
Now, the German is an indispensable part of the New York team. “I’ve worked my way up and I’m a starter in the playoffs,” Fiebich says with satisfaction, adding that there are “a lot” of European players in the WNBA who “hardly get any playing time.”
