Jonathan Kolb, General Manager of the New York Liberty, named 2023 WNBA Executive of the Year.

Jonathan Kolb, General Manager of the New York Liberty, named 2023 WNBA Executive of the Year.

Decision made by league's 12 executives; Kolb received six first-place votes.

Key offseason moves: Acquired Jonquel Jones via trade, signed Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot in free agency.

Star players joined Sabrina Ionescu and Betnijah Laney on the team.

Players like Stewart and Vandersloot took lower salaries for a chance at a championship.

Liberty, never having won a WNBA title, are determined to change that. Kolb secured contract extensions for Ionescu, Laney, and Kayla Thornton.

Remarkable turnaround: 2-20 record in 2020 to 32-8 record in 2023.

Success attributed to careful planning and resource-building since 2019.

Team bought by Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai, Kolb hired as GM.

Improved facilities and resources to attract top players.