Every member of the reigning WNBA Champion New York Liberty saw court time during the team’s season opener on Saturday, a 92–78 win over the Las Vegas Aces. The day began with a celebration of the franchise’s first-ever league title, with a banner raised on the rafters of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and the presentation of rings to championship team members.
Then, it was down to business. Much of last year’s Liberty team had returned, notably Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones. While Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who has been an important part of the Liberty since 2021, was in attendance, she will not see action this season as she recovers from a knee injury. While her absence will be felt, it also makes room for veteran guard Natasha Cloud.
“It was electrifying,” said Cloud, who had 22 points, six rebounds, and nine assists in her first regular season game in a Liberty uniform. “I always understood as an opponent that the crowd and the fans here are the sixth man on the court at all times. They have the ability to shift momentum at any given moment, and when it’s on your side, it’s really refreshing and nice because it gives you that extra energy.”
Stewart had 25 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Jones had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Kennedy Burke added 10 points. Ionescu had eight points, seven rebounds, and four assists. The game marked Marine Johannes’ return after missing last season. She had minimal impact on this game, but no doubt much will be expected as the season progresses.
“We’re going to continue to build that chemistry, but switching it in a number of different ways,” said Stewart. This made it hard for the Aces, which has a somewhat different look this season. Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and A’ja Wilson all scored in double figures, and Wilson led all scorers with 31 points.
This will be an exciting WNBA season as its teams are already experiencing sold-out crowds in the first week of the new season, with enthusiasm running high. The WNBA has also announced its season-long community impact campaign named “No Space for Hate,” a multi-dimensional platform designed to combat hate and promote respect across all WNBA spaces –– from online to inside arenas. Additionally, the league has unveiled “Viewer Discretion,” a series of films that will spotlight the WNBA’s most gripping players and personalities.
The Liberty hit the road for games like the Chicago Sky tonight and the Indiana Fever on Saturday. They’ll return home for back-to-back games against the league’s newest team, the Golden State Valkyries, on May 27 and 29.