After losing the first three games of a season-long seven-game home stand that began on May 21, the New York Liberty course corrected and won the final four games at the Barclays Center. After an 89-80 victory over the Connecticut Sun this past Monday, they take a five-game winning streak into Atlanta tonight against the Dream.
The Liberty’s surge has been driven by two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart, who scored 30 points versus the Indiana Fever in a 83-75 win on Saturday and followed that up with 28 points and nine rebounds in taking down the Sun. The 6’4” Stewart is averaging 20.5 points (fourth in the league) and 8.6 rebounds (ninth) on the season.
“It took a lot of toughness, I think, next woman up mentality, especially when you’re playing a team like Connecticut, you know, they’re hungry for their wins,” Stewart said, after logging 34 minutes in that game.
“They want the opportunity to win at home. And they have (players) out (with injury) too, so, you know, players are trying to kind of make their mark and make an impact on why they should be playing more and things like that. I think that we handled their punches pretty well.”
The 8-4 Liberty have forced their way into the top five of the league standings, even without perennial all-star Sabrina Ionescu. The 5’9” point guard suffered a left foot/ankle injury on May 3, returned for one game on May 24, but has since remained sidelined with back soreness. She is listed as day-to-day. Center Jonquel Jones, the 2024 WNBA Finals MVP, also missed Monday’s game with an undisclosed illness.
“I love this team,” said Liberty first-year head coach Chris DeMarco after defeating the Sun. “We are growing together. We are building together, and it’s just been like this. It seems like every game (it is) something different. If somebody’s out … we just found a way to get wins, so really proud of the group.”
DeMarco admitted that he was concerned with the Liberty’s health ahead of meeting the Sun.
“I was worried about this game coming in here, and then at the last minute, JJ (Jones) being out, I just thought we showed great togetherness and some funky lineups at times, but we played hard.”
Before last night’s league schedule tipped-off, the Liberty were behind the Minnesota Lynx (10-2), Las Vegas Aces (8-3) and Atlanta Dream (8-3). They will be back in Brooklyn on Sunday to host the Washington Mystics.
