“Let’s get it Q!” This is how Angel Reese welcomed former New York Liberty guard, Marquesha Davis, to the Chicago Sky’s locker room. While this shocking news came as a respite to a spiralling roster, it provided Davis with a chance to prove her mettle on the hardwood once again.
Despite her standout performances at Ole Miss, the athlete failed to command a dominating presence in her debut season in the pros. While we are aware of the sophomore athlete’s career trajectory so far, let us understand how this latest move will impact her professional salary.
What are the terms of Marquesha Davis’ rookie contract with the New York Liberty?
As the 11th overall pick during the 2024 WNBA draft, Marquesha Davis signed a four-year rookie contract with the New York Liberty. While the total value of the contract was worth a whopping $310,718, it guaranteed an average annual salary, roughly amounting to $77,680. Marquesha’s contract was part of the standard rookie scale for first-round WNBA draft picks.
Therefore, it was an unprotected deal by nature that failed to provide a signing bonus. Moreover, the deal was set to run from 2024 through 2027. This meant that the athlete was subject to being transformed into a restricted free agent (RFA) by 2028, provided her contract does not get renewed. But with the sudden waiver, Davis’ contract with the Liberty gets terminated with immediate effect.
How much did Marquesha Davis earn before being waived by the New York Liberty?
Davis earned a salary of $70,344 in 2024 during her debut season with the New York Liberty. However, the player managed to earn an additional $30,753 before being waived off. This brought her total earnings from the Liberty to a whopping $101,097. While the athlete earned handsomely under the Liberty, something did not match.
Well, it was her limited playing time, coupled with the franchise’s need for salary cap flexibility, that led to the player’s final release on July 13, 2025. Unfortunately, Davis only appeared in 111 minutes across 29 games. Besides, she has managed to average a staggering performance totaling just 32 points and 15 rebounds last season.
For the 2025 campaign, her averages read: 0.9 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.1 assist. So, the decision to waive her was only natural for head coach Sandy Brondello & Co. After all, her waiver freed approximately $35,000 in cap space for the Liberty ahead of the WNBA trade deadline.
Did Marquesha Davis sign a new contract after being waived by the Liberty?
While the athlete was released on July 13 ahead of this season’s All-Star games, she was almost immediately signed by the Chicago Sky. However, the team signed the athlete on a temporary contract– a seven-day hardship contract.
The short-term deal came underway after Sky’s active locker room fell short of players. While Courtney Vandersloot was sidelined for the entire season owing to an ACL tear, Sky guard Ariel Atkins and Michaela Onyenwere also took the bench after succumbing to injuries.
It was this lack of backcourt depth that urged the Sky front office to take the bold step. This hardship contract is not a part of her original rookie deal under the liberty. Instead, it is a replacement contract- more like a temporary opportunity for Davis to showcase her skillset and potential to carve a permanent and long-term roster spot in a franchise. Something similar to how ex-hardship contract signee, Aari McDonald managed to carve herself a spot following the Indiana Fever’s ups and downs.
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