Brooklyn’s Prince bids farewell to WNBA

Former Liberty, Murry Bergtraum star retires after 14 years

April 24, 2024 John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Brooklyn native Epiphanny Prince said goodbye via social media to her 14-year career in the WNBA, which featured two stops with the New York Liberty. AP Photo by Jessica Hill

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Though she only appeared in 10 games off the bench and put up less than two points per contest, Brooklyn’s own Epiphanny Prince was part of the greatest season in New York Liberty history.

Fittingly so.

The 14-year WNBA veteran and Murry Bergtraum High School star announced Tuesday through social media that she was hanging up her sneakers after what proved to be her second and final stint with the Liberty.

“I have been fortunate to have a long career filled with unforgettable memories,” Prince wrote on Instagram. “A lot of winning, ups and downs, traveling the world, and meeting so many amazing people.”

Prince, who first came to national notoriety for pouring in a scholastic record 113 points at Bergtraum in 2006, averaged 1.8 points while logging 7.1 minutes for New York in 2023.

Though she may have been lost in the shuffle a bit as the Liberty won a franchise-record 32 regular-season games and reached the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2002, Prince made the most of her training camp invite last spring.

She logged a season-high 22 minutes in New York’s first victory of the campaign on May 21 at Barclays Center, compiling three points, two rebounds and two assists.

That was her last appearance until mid-June, when the Liberty inked Prince to a hardship contract to help an injury-plagued roster.

Reigning WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart celebrated the 2020 WNBA championship with teammate Epiphanny Prince. AP Photo by Chris O’Meara

On a team loaded with stars, including current and former Most Valuable Players Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, as well as All-Star guard Sabrina Ionescu and future Hall of Famer Courtney Vandersloot, it was Prince who gave head coach Sandy Brondello an extra assistant on the bench.

She made what proved to be her swan song appearance against arch rival Las Vegas in Brooklyn on Aug. 6, knocking down her final shot in the WNBA for her only two points in a 99-61 rout of the eventual champions.

Prince’s career originally took flight at Rutgers University, where she helped the Scarlet Knights reach the NCAA Tournament final as a freshman.

After being selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky, Prince earned a pair of All-Star Game appearances and captured the 2020 title at the league’s bubble site in Florida alongside Stewart with the Seattle Storm.

Prince played most notably for the Liberty between 2015-18, guiding New York to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2015, when the team was still based in Manhattan under Knicks ownership.

Her heralded career also had an international flair as Prince balled overseas in Turkey and Russia.

The 36-year-old was a member of the 2013 Russian National Team, and played for Istanbul’s Galatasaray until she returned to the WNBA here in Brooklyn.

She nearly earned a second WNBA championship ring before the Liberty fell in a heartbreaking Game 4 to the Aces here on the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush.

“I love y’all. To my fans and to anyone who has helped this kid on her journey,” Prince finished her post.

NCAA phenom Caitlin Clark, the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft last week, will be in Brooklyn with the Indiana Fever on May 18 for the Liberty’s home opener. AP Photo by Darron Cummings

GIVE ME LIBERTY: New York will open its much-anticipated 2024 campaign on May 14 at Washington. The Liberty will be in Indiana on May 16 for the home debut of NCAA sensation and first overall pick Caitlin Clark. Clark and the Fever will be at Barclays Center for the Liberty’s home opener on May 18. … The Nets will welcome new head coach Jordi Fernandez to Industry City Wednesday morning for his introductory press conference. Fernandez was among a dozen candidates general manager Sean Marks interviewed before the former Sacramento assistant became the 24th head coach in Nets history. The presser will be televised live on YES Network at 11 a.m.