Rebekah Gardner Bio
Rebekah Gardner (born July 9, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the New York Liberty of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). A guard standing 6 feet 1 inch tall, she played college basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) before launching a professional career that has spanned overseas leagues and the WNBA. Gardner is recognized for her steady scoring, rebounding from the perimeter, and her development from a reserve role in college into a rotation player at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Rebekah Jasmine Gardner was born on July 9, 1990, in Palm Springs, California, USA. She grew up in Southern California, a region known for producing competitive basketball talent across boys’ and girls’ programs. Her early environment placed her within reach of strong high school competition and year-round training opportunities.
Gardner attended Ayala High School in Chino Hills, California, where she played for the school’s girls’ basketball program. Her play in high school helped her attract attention from college recruiters, and she ultimately committed to UCLA, one of the top programs in the Pac-12 Conference. Her path from the desert region to a Power Five conference program reflected years of steady skill development.
Path to Basketball
Gardner joined UCLA and quickly joined the Bruins’ women’s basketball team. During her first three seasons she was primarily a reserve, learning the pace and physical demands of major college basketball. Even in those early years she produced notable performances, including a then career-high 13 points against rival USC as a freshman and 19 points against Washington State as a sophomore, when she also earned Pac-10 All-Academic Honorable Mention recognition.
By her senior campaign, Gardner had developed into a starter and a central figure in UCLA’s offense. She started all 30 games that season and averaged 15.9 points and 6.4 rebounds, performances that placed her on the All-Pac-12 Team. That senior year signaled her transition from role player to a professional prospect, and she entered the 2012 WNBA draft cycle aiming to extend her career at the highest level.
Rebekah Gardner Career
Early Career (2012–2016)
After completing her college eligibility in 2012, Gardner began her professional career overseas. She spent several seasons playing abroad, including a stint with Osmaniye in Turkey during the 2016–2017 campaign. These early professional years allowed her to refine her perimeter game, adjust to longer international seasons, and build the experience that would later prepare her for the WNBA.
Her time overseas also connected her to a wider network of American players in European leagues, an environment that has produced many WNBA contributors. Gardner’s growth as a scorer and rebounder during this period laid the foundation for her eventual return to the United States and her pursuit of a roster spot in the WNBA.
WNBA Breakthrough (2017–2022)
Gardner signed a training camp contract with the Chicago Sky on March 22, 2017, marking her first formal entry into WNBA training camps. After additional overseas development, she returned to the Sky on February 10, 2022, signing another training camp deal. As an undrafted 31-year-old, she earned a roster spot and quickly became a vital contributor on a Sky squad that posted one of the league’s best records through late June 2022. Her play that season earned her a place on the WNBA All-Rookie Team, an unusual honor for a player who had already waited years for her first full WNBA opportunity.
Chicago Sky Era (2022–2023)
Over two seasons with the Chicago Sky from 2022 through 2023, Gardner served as a reliable rotation piece. Her shooting, rebounding, and defensive versatility gave the Sky flexibility in their lineups. Although detailed game-by-game results are not fully documented, her presence helped stabilize the team’s wing rotation during a competitive stretch in the Eastern Conference.
New York Liberty Era (2024–Present)
On March 15, 2024, Gardner was traded from the Chicago Sky to the New York Liberty in exchange for 2025 and 2026 second-round draft picks. The move placed her on one of the WNBA’s most competitive rosters and offered a fresh opportunity to contribute on a contending team. She has continued to play alongside several established stars, providing depth and outside shooting for the Liberty.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gardner is a guard whose strengths include perimeter shooting, smart positioning on the boards, and the ability to defend multiple positions. Her college development at UCLA, where she averaged 15.9 points and 6.4 rebounds as a senior, highlighted her scoring efficiency and rebounding instincts for a wing. At the WNBA level she has translated those traits into a steady rotation role, particularly through catch-and-shoot opportunities and second-effort plays on the glass.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her standout achievements, Gardner earned selection to the WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2022 after joining the Chicago Sky as an undrafted free agent. Earlier, her 2012 All-Pac-12 selection closed a strong senior season at UCLA. Her March 2024 trade to the New York Liberty added another notable career chapter, moving her from one contender to another.
Rebekah Gardner Career Wins
Gardner’s professional career has featured steady contributions rather than a long list of headline championships. She has built her résumé through overseas seasons in Turkey, Romania, and Spain, including stints with Osmaniye (2016–2017), ACS Sepsi SIC (2020–2021), and Uni Girona CB (2021–2024). Within the WNBA, her clearest honor to date is the 2022 WNBA All-Rookie Team selection following her standout debut with the Chicago Sky.
WNBA Highlights
Gardner’s WNBA story began with training camp contracts in 2017 and again in 2022, with the second opportunity producing her breakthrough. As a 31-year-old undrafted rookie she carved out a rotation role on a Chicago Sky team that posted the league’s second-best record through late June 2022, and she was recognized with a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team. Her subsequent trade to the New York Liberty in March 2024 expanded her platform on a championship-caliber roster.
Other Wins and Performances
At UCLA, Gardner’s senior-year averages of 15.9 points and 6.4 rebounds marked her most complete college season and earned her All-Pac-12 recognition. Earlier in her college career she had been named to the Pac-10 All-Academic Honorable Mention Team, a distinction reflecting her balance of athletic and academic performance. Her overseas tenure, including her time at Uni Girona CB alongside fellow UCLA alums Michaela Onyenwere and Kennedy Burke, added international experience to her résumé.
Rebekah Gardner Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Rebekah Gardner comes from a family with athletic ties beyond basketball. She is cousins with former National Football League player Toussaint Tyler, a connection that places her within a wider family tradition of competitive sport. Public details about her parents and siblings are limited.
Personal Life
Gardner keeps much of her personal life private, and verified public information about a spouse or children has not been published. Her professional social media presence, including accounts on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), offers fans occasional glimpses into her training and travel. She has spent extended periods abroad during her career, building a personal network across the international basketball community.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 WNBA season, Rebekah Gardner remains part of the New York Liberty roster following her March 2024 trade from Chicago. The Liberty are expected to compete at a championship level, and Gardner’s perimeter shooting and rebounding give the team a flexible veteran option on the wing. Her experience as a multi-season professional should help her maintain a steady role in the rotation.
Key storylines to watch include her on-court fit alongside the Liberty’s established core and her consistency as a catch-and-shoot threat. With the team built to contend, Gardner’s minutes may be shaped by matchups and rotation patterns set by the coaching staff. Her ability to deliver in limited minutes could prove valuable during a long playoff push.
Looking ahead, Gardner’s outlook in 2025 centers on contributing to a Liberty squad aiming for a deep postseason run. Her overseas background and two seasons with Chicago give her a wealth of professional experience to draw upon. If she maintains her shooting efficiency and defensive discipline, she should remain a trusted rotation piece for the Liberty throughout the season.