Liberty coach Sandy Brondello knew Isabelle Harrison was a special talent more than a decade ago.
It’s why the Mercury drafted Harrison No. 12 overall in the 2015 draft despite her being sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament tear.
A decade later, Brondello is still high on Harrison and says she could play an important role in helping the Liberty defend their 2024 title.
“It’s great to have her back here,” Brondello said Monday. “She can add another level to how we want to play.”
Harrison is just as excited about her reunion with Brondello as she is to be with a WNBA team filled with stars.
Over the past few days, Harrison couldn’t help but to feel inspired as she looked around the Liberty’s practice court at Barclays Center.
She watches to see what Breanna Stewart is working on by herself and takes notes.
She’s in awe of Sabrina Ionescu’s pursuit to elevate her game and Jonquel Jones’ desire to continue proving people wrong.
“Being around players like Sab and Stewie, it just makes you rethink your game, truly, it pushes you to another level and you can never get comfortable,” Harrison said. “Being around players like that, you just don’t ever get comfortable because they don’t do that.”
What’s also helped Harrison with her transition to Brooklyn is how the Liberty have continued to deliver on everything they promised.
Harrison has played for four other WNBA teams, but never has she experienced first-rate support like she has in her first few weeks with the Liberty.
Some of the newcomers, including Natasha Cloud, have welcomed the Liberty’s organization and regimented schedules. Harrison, though, appreciates the individualized attention to each player and what their specific needs may be.
She likes that there’s no shortage of time on the training tables, which wasn’t always the case at other teams. When she walks off the court after workouts, she’s handed a protein smoothie made to her liking.
“You’re just not spending your mental energy on what is the right way to do things,” Harrison said. “There’s people hired to do those things so you don’t have to do more than what you should be doing. I’m here to play basketball … I feel appreciated and valued.”
Imagine how she’ll feel when the Liberty open their $80 million practice facility in 2027.
“Jonathan [Kolb], the GM, he just puts it in the best words. He was like, ‘You guys just worry about basketball and then we’ll worry about everything else,’” Harrison said. “And I think this is the first place where I have truly not only heard that, but seen it.”
Not every franchise has the resources the Liberty can provide. With other teams, Harrison said she did “different jobs that were not my job.”
The disparity between the haves and have-nots has impacted free agency.
Knowing the reputation the Liberty have earned since Joe and Clara Wu Tsai bought the team in 2019 made Harrison’s decision to come to New York an easy one.
“When [Brondello] asked if I was interested in New York, I was like, ‘Hell yeah,’” Harrison said. “I didn’t hesitate coming here.”
Harrison is coming off a trying season with the Sky, who fired their head coach, former Liberty star Teresa Weatherspoon, after one season.
Harrison, who had knee surgery in 2023, didn’t feel like she was quite 100 percent.
Two days into training camp, though, Harrison said she feels like she’s back at full strength and is gearing up for what could be a big season.
“Mentally I’m in the best head space that I’ve been in a while honestly,” Harrison said. “Being here and just seeing everybody want to genuinely be here, it’s not like a fake smile anyone puts on. People really care to be here. … It just lets you know people enjoy what they do and that makes it easier for me to come in and do that as well.”
