As was what might've been expected, ESPN's Mechelle Voepel reports that New York Liberty coach and general manager Bill Laimbeer doesn't expect Deanna Nolan to make her return to the WNBA this season.

Laimbeer said he isn't really optimistic that Nolan, 33, will play this season in New York. But if she does, it will be for the coach with whom she won three titles in Detroit.

The other nugget from Voepel: former Detroit Shock player Cheryl Ford is also likely to return to the league this season after also taking a hiatus since her former franchise moved to Tulsa.

For more on the trade, visit our New York Liberty offseason storystream.