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 listed at 6 ft 1 in, she has built her career through years of overseas play before earning a WNBA roster spot as an undrafted free agent. She is widely recognized for her late-blooming college trajectory at UCLA and her perseverance in reaching the league more than a decade after leaving campus.
Early Life and Background
Rebekah Gardner was born on July 9, 1990, in Palm Springs, California. She grew up in the Inland Empire region of Southern California and attended Ayala High School in Chino Hills, California, where she developed into a Division I college prospect. The competitive high school environment in the area helped shape her work ethic and prepared her for the next step of her career.
Path to Basketball
After high school, Rebekah Gardner joined the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball program, where she played from 2008 to 2012. Through her first three seasons, she served mostly as a role player off the bench. As a freshman, she set an early career high with 13 points against USC. In her sophomore year, she earned seven starts and raised her career high to 19 points against Washington State while also earning Pac-10 All-Academic Honorable Mention recognition. Her path to becoming a professional player was forged through steady, patient development rather than immediate stardom.
Rebekah Gardner Career
Early Career (2008–2012)
At UCLA, Rebekah Gardner spent her first three seasons in a complementary role for the Bruins. Her breakthrough came during her senior campaign, when she started all 30 games and became a central figure in the UCLA offense. She averaged 15.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game that season, performances that earned her a place on the All-Pac-12 Team and the Pac-12 Second Team honor in 2012.
Professional Breakthrough (2016–2021)
Although she went undrafted in the 2012 WNBA Draft, Rebekah Gardner continued her career overseas, sharpening her skills against international competition. She played for Osmaniye during the 2016–2017 season, then joined ACS Sepsi SIC from 2020 to 2021. These stops allowed her to grow into a more complete scoring guard and prepared her for a return to the WNBA stage.
Uni Girona CB Era (2021–2024)
For the 2021–2022 season, Rebekah Gardner signed with Uni Girona CB of the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto in Spain, where she joined fellow UCLA alums Michaela Onyenwere and Kennedy Burke. She remained with the Spanish club through 2024, becoming a featured player in one of Europe’s top women’s leagues and a respected scorer abroad.
Chicago Sky Era (2022–2023)
On February 10, 2022, Rebekah Gardner signed a training camp contract with the Chicago Sky. The undrafted 31-year-old made the Sky’s roster and quickly became a vital contributor, helping the team post the second-best record in the league during the early part of the 2022 season. Her play that year earned her a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2022, a fitting reward for a player who had waited years to reach the league.
New York Liberty Era (2024–Present)
On March 15, 2024, Rebekah Gardner was traded to the New York Liberty in exchange for 2025 and 2026 second-round draft picks. The move paired her with one of the league’s most competitive rosters and gave her an opportunity to contribute on a contending team. She now wears number 7 for the Liberty and continues to provide perimeter scoring and veteran experience.
Playing Style and Strengths
Rebekah Gardner is a guard whose game is built on perimeter scoring, mid-range efficiency, and reliable rebounding for her position. Standing 6 ft 1 in, she uses her size to finish at the rim and to defend multiple positions. Her international experience has added a layer of tactical discipline and composure to her offensive approach.
Notable Events and Milestones
Her most notable milestone came in 2022, when she made the Chicago Sky roster as an undrafted free agent and was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team. She also earned All-Pac-12 Second Team honors in 2012 after her senior breakout at UCLA, and she has been part of postseason pushes with the Sky and the Liberty.
Rebekah Gardner Career Wins
Rebekah Gardner’s career has been defined less by single championship trophies and more by steady team contributions across multiple top leagues. She has been part of contending rosters with the Chicago Sky and the New York Liberty, and she has been a featured player for Uni Girona CB in Spain’s Liga Femenina de Baloncesto.
WNBA Highlights
Rebekah Gardner’s primary WNBA highlight is her selection to the 2022 WNBA All-Rookie Team with the Chicago Sky. She helped the Sky post the second-best record in the league early in the 2022 season and has since contributed to a Liberty team built to contend. Her 2022 rookie recognition stands as her signature league-level achievement.
Other Wins and Performances
Rebekah Gardner earned All-Pac-12 Second Team and Pac-10 All-Academic Honorable Mention honors during her college career at UCLA. She also posted a career-high 19 points against Washington State in her sophomore season, a marker of her scoring upside that translated to her professional career.
Rebekah Gardner Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Rebekah Gardner is cousins with former NFL player Toussaint Tyler, reflecting a family with a deep athletic tradition. The connection to professional sports helped shape her competitive approach and her understanding of the dedication required at the highest levels.
Personal Life
Rebekah Gardner continues her professional basketball career while remaining connected to her family roots in California. Details of her personal relationships have not been widely publicized, and she keeps much of her private life out of the public eye.
2025 Season Performance
Rebekah Gardner enters the 2025 WNBA season as a member of the New York Liberty, a roster constructed to compete for a championship. Her veteran presence and perimeter scoring give the Liberty a steady option off the bench, and her international experience brings a level of poise to the locker room. The team is expected to rely on her shooting and rebounding to complement its core players.
Throughout the early part of 2025, Gardner’s role is likely to expand as the Liberty navigate a deep playoff push. Her ability to defend multiple positions and stretch the floor fits the modern style of play. With the trade that brought her to New York now fully settled, she and the Liberty are focused on translating regular-season success into a deep postseason run.
