New York Liberty General Manager Jonathan Kolb has been named the WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year.
Kolb was the first GM in WNBA history to acquire three all-stars from the past season, including two previous MVPs, with Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot. Kolb’s off-season transactions were also highlighted by the acquisitions of Kayla Thornton, player rights to Leonie Fiebich, and 2025 First Round pick swap rights with the Phoenix Mercury.
"I am profoundly humbled to be named this year’s WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year by my esteemed peers, a group for whom I hold the deepest respect,” said Kolb in a press release. “This accolade, at its core, is a testament to the synergy of our team – from Clara and our ownership group’s unwavering trust, to lockstep partnership with Keia and our business team, the brilliance and unity our players exhibit on the court, the meticulous dedication of Sandy and our coaching staff, the strategy sessions with my confidant Ohemaa and our front office, and the ceaseless care factor from our performance staff and entire team.
The Liberty’s roster hit historic heights during the 2023 regular season, finishing with a franchise-best 32-8 (.800) overall record and becoming the second-ever 30-plus win team in WNBA history. New York also set the all-time WNBA record for team assist percentage (75.0%).
Kolb has positioned New York for continued success, securing multi-year extensions of Sabrina Ionescu, Kayla Thornton and Betnijah Laney through the 2025 season.
"Serving as the General Manager for the New York Liberty has been a dream realized for me, and I bear the weight of this role with immense responsibility and gratitude," said Kolb. "Witnessing our fans rally behind this team has been incredible, and I cannot wait to see where this journey takes us.”
This award marks the first-ever in New York Liberty franchise history since it was instituted in the 2017 season.
