Esmery Martinez Bio
Esmery Martinez (born 1 May 2000) is a Dominican professional basketball player who was selected 17th overall by the New York Liberty of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) in the 2024 WNBA draft. She played college basketball at West Virginia and Arizona, and she is also a member of the Dominican Republic women’s national basketball team. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, Martinez is recognized as the first Dominican-born player ever chosen in the WNBA draft.
After a brief stint with the Liberty in 2024, she joined Flammes Carolo Basket of the Ligue Féminine de Basketball in France. In February 2025, she returned to the Liberty on a training camp deal, rekindling her WNBA career and positioning herself as a versatile forward with international experience.
Early Life and Background
Esmery Martinez was born on 1 May 2000 in Hato Mayor del Rey, a city in the eastern Dominican Republic. Growing up in the Dominican Republic, she was introduced to basketball at a young age and quickly developed into one of the country’s most promising young talents. Her height and athleticism allowed her to stand out in local competition, and her performances eventually drew attention from international programs.
She moved to the United States to attend Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she played high school basketball. During her high school career, Martinez averaged 18.3 points, 14.3 rebounds and 5.9 blocks per game. She helped the program finish as the runner-up at the 2018 GEICO High School Nationals Tournament and was named to the all-tournament team. Her dominance at Hamilton Heights set the stage for a college recruitment process that brought her to one of the top programs in the Big 12 Conference.
Path to Basketball
Martinez began her college basketball career at West Virginia University during the 2019-20 season. As a freshman, she appeared in all 29 games and averaged 5.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, showing enough promise to earn a larger role the following year. Her development accelerated during the 2020-21 season, when she started all 29 games for the Mountaineers and averaged 13.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, finishing with a team-high 335 rebounds, the fifth-most in program history. That performance earned her first-team All-Big 12 honors.
During her junior year at West Virginia in 2021-22, she started 28 games and averaged 11.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, earning second-team All-Big 12 recognition. After entering the NCAA transfer portal in April 2022, she briefly committed to LSU before ultimately transferring to Arizona for the 2022-23 season, where she would finish her college career as a graduate student.
Esmery Martinez Career
Early Career (2019-2022)
Martinez’s early college years at West Virginia established her as one of the most productive rebounders in the Big 12. Her sophomore double-double average of 13.6 points and 11.6 rebounds highlighted her ability to impact games on both ends of the floor, and her consistent rebounding totals placed her among the program’s all-time leaders.
Her transfer to Arizona in May 2022 marked a new chapter in her development. During her first season with the Wildcats in 2022-23, she started all 32 games and averaged 10.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, while her 274 rebounds ranked eighth-most in a single season in Arizona program history. She finished second in the Pac-12 in offensive rebounds with 97 and was named an All-Pac-12 honorable mention, as well as a top-ten finalist for the Katrina McClain Award.
Arizona Breakthrough (2022-2024)
After initially declaring for the 2023 WNBA draft, Martinez withdrew her name and returned to Arizona for a fifth year using her extra season of eligibility. During the 2023-24 campaign, she played in 33 games with 32 starts, averaging 11.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Her all-around production earned her Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honorable mention honors and a selection to the All-Pac-12 team by the media.
Her expanded skill set at Arizona, including her playmaking and perimeter defense, made her one of the most versatile forwards in the conference. By the time she finished her college career, Martinez had established herself as a consistent double-digit scorer and a reliable rebounder at two major Division I programs.
New York Liberty Era (2024-Present)
On 15 April 2024, Martinez was selected in the second round, 17th overall, by the New York Liberty in the 2024 WNBA draft, becoming the first Dominican-born player ever chosen in the WNBA draft. On 13 May 2024, she was waived by the Liberty, ending her initial stint with the franchise. She then signed with Flammes Carolo Basket of the Ligue Féminine de Basketball on 19 June 2024, beginning her professional career in Europe.
Martinez left Flammes Carolo in April 2025 after activating her release clause, and on 1 February 2025, she signed a training camp contract with the Liberty, marking her return to the WNBA. Her blend of international experience and refined post play positioned her to compete for a roster spot heading into the 2025 WNBA season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although she does not drive in the motorsport sense, Martinez is known for her physical, defense-first style of play. Her length, rebounding instincts and shot-blocking ability allow her to protect the rim, while her improved passing and perimeter skill give her offensive versatility. She thrives as a connective forward who can switch defensively, crash the offensive glass and finish through contact.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most significant milestones of Martinez’s career came on 15 April 2024, when she became the first Dominican-born player selected in the WNBA draft. Her earlier international debut at the 2018 FIBA Caribbean Women’s Championship and her senior national team debut at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup further underscore her importance to Dominican basketball.
Esmery Martinez Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Martinez’s immediate family, including her parents and any relatives involved in basketball, is limited. She grew up in Hato Mayor del Rey in the Dominican Republic and later moved to the United States to attend Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, where she developed her game.
Personal Life
Martinez maintains an active presence on social media, including an Instagram account under the handle smeri.martinez. Details about her marital status, spouse or children have not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Martinez enters the 2025 WNBA season with renewed momentum after signing a training camp contract with the New York Liberty on 1 February 2025. Her year of professional experience in France’s Ligue Féminine de Basketball with Flammes Carolo Basket has given her a full season of high-level competition, sharpening her conditioning and refining her offensive game against grown professional players.
With the Liberty seeking depth in the frontcourt, Martinez will compete for minutes behind established post players, and her rebounding and defensive versatility could make her a valuable rotation piece. Her ability to switch defensively and crash the offensive glass aligns with the modern pace-and-space style that New York has embraced under its current system.
Heading into the 2025 campaign, Martinez’s combination of international experience, refined post skills and defensive instincts positions her to earn a more permanent role with the Liberty. Her trajectory reflects the growing global pipeline of talent reaching the WNBA, and her continued development will be a storyline to watch throughout the season.