With all the changes the Liberty have made since last season, coach Anne Donovan had a rookie on the court in the decisive final two minutes of a 77-68 win over Connecticut on Sunday.
“It means she trusts me,” rookie Kalana Greene told The Post. “The last couple of games I haven’t added much of anything. But she trusted me, believed in me and in a game we absolutely needed going into this West Coast trip, she gave me a chance.”
The Liberty (6-7), a winner of two straight, begins a three-game West Coast road trip tonight in Phoenix that will carry it through the All-Star break. After a roster overhaul that included trading for Cappie Pondexter, taking Nicole Powell in the dispersal draft, acquiring Plenette Pierson and promoting Leilani Mitchell to starting point guard, Greene has emerged as Donovan’s first swingman off the bench.
The 5-10 former UConn star had eight points, three rebounds, two blocked shots and one steal against the Sun. With 1:33 left, she put in a layup off a loose ball and grabbed an offensive rebound with 44 seconds left that sealed the win.
“She has steadily done the job,” said Donovan, “and shed her rookie status.”