Liberty Will Have to Wait For Epiphanny

New York Liberty basketball players Epiphanny Prince, right, and Tina Charles talk during practice Thursday, May 21, 2015, in Tarrytown, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The first setback for the New York Liberty in this 2015 WNBA season will be the existence of the Eurobasket Women’s 2015 Tournament. Because of the dreaded two sided coin of women’s professional athletics, WNBA players such as Epiphanny Prince are usually engaged in seasons overseas.

Prince, who the Liberty acquired in a trade with Chicago for Cappie Pondexter, will miss a month of the upcoming WNBA season. Epiphanny has duel citizenship which allows her to play in Russia. She has been playing for Dynamo Kursk of the Russian Premier League, when the WNBA season is over, since 2012. The Liberty were aware of this when they traded for the two-time WNBA All-Star.

“When we acquired Epiphanny, we understood that her international obligations may interrupt our season at times,” senior VP of Basketball Operations, Kridtin Bernert explained. “But the move was made for the long term success of the Liberty.”

Epiphanny will leave on May 22 and report back after the competition which runs from June 11 through 28 in Hungary and Romania. Prince, a Queens, NY native is disappointed that it will be a while before New York fans get to see her play.

“While I’m sad that I will miss the start of the season, part of being a professional women’s basketball player is fulfilling international obligations,” Prince responded. “I am glad I was able to be at camp and am excited to be here in New York and play in front of my family and friends. ”

This will create a hole at the point with Anna Cruz and Alex Montgomery gone. The pressure to hold down the position until Prince’ return may fall on young veteran Sugar Rodgers or first round draft pick Brittany Boyd of Baylor.