Epiphanny Prince back with the New York Liberty

NEW YORK – Epiphanny Prince will finally get to play for her hometown team, the New York Liberty.

Prince is back after missing the first 10 games of the regular season while she was competing for Russia in the EuroBasket tournament. The Liberty held their own without the New York native whom they acquired in a blockbuster offseason from Chicago for Cappie Pondexter. New York (6-4) is tied for second place in the Eastern Conference.

Prince was disappointed her Russian team couldn’t do more at the Olympic qualifier. Russia finished in sixth place, losing to Turkey in overtime. Had Prince’s team won, it would have made a final Olympic qualifier next spring. Now Russia will not compete in the Olympics for the first time since 1984 when the country boycotted the Los Angeles games.

“It’s unfortunate that was the outcome,” Prince said. “Now I’m home and can focus on helping this team.”

Fortunately for Prince and the Liberty, due to a scheduling quirk, the team will have had nine days between the Chicago game on June 30 and their next one Thursday against Washington. The break has come at a good time to allow Prince to become accustomed to her new team.

“We got a little practice time with her to get her up to speed,” Liberty coach Bill Laimbeer said. “I think we need the other scorer.”