Final 12 months, once we kicked off the 2023 WNBA season, the New York Liberty have been a brand new group looking for their chemistry. It took them just a few weeks into the season to essentially get on the identical degree, however after that they have been golden.
Now in 2024, it’s a special state of affairs. Whereas the Liberty’s bench is pretty new, the core of the group is the precise group of gamers that led the group to the 2023 WNBA Finals. And you’ll inform that is the group that made it to the Finals final season! They seem like a well-oiled machine, and the chemistry that was missing to kick off final season is most positively current now. They’re robust, wholesome, and skilled—and it exhibits. They’ve needed to adapt to their new bench, after all, however that’s one thing you are able to do over time. The core is the necessary half.
4 incredible wins
The Liberty kicked off the season final week towards the Washington Mystics. It was the group’s closest sport of the season to date, which was not shocking contemplating all groups try to shake off the beginning of season jitters and low season mud. Nonetheless, in contrast to final season’s opener towards the Mystics, the Liberty have been in a position to pull by way of with the 85-80 win.
After that, the Liberty had a home-and-away sequence with the Indiana Fever. Whereas the Fever absolutely have some younger stars on their roster, they’re nonetheless figuring issues out. They have been no match for the expertise and energy of a group just like the Liberty, with a core made up of a number of veterans, MVPs, champions and tenured WNBA gamers. The Liberty beat the Fever 102-66 in Indiana, after which got here dwelling to beat them once more, 91-80, just a few days later. Breanna Stewart scored 31 factors within the first match up between the groups, already serving to her personal MVP marketing campaign.
New York then welcomed the Seattle Storm to Barclays on Sunday, and Stewart received to face her outdated group for the primary time this season. Whereas the Storm definitely have an incredible roster of Jewell Loyd, Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith, they appear to be in the identical spot New York was in final 12 months, making an attempt to construct chemistry as a brand new group. Whereas the Storm positively put up a combat, New York was in a position to get that win, 74-63.
The Liberty at the moment are 4-0 going into the second week of the season.
What New York is doing proper
The Liberty have what numerous groups within the WNBA don’t: successful expertise.
Two of their 5 starters are champions, two of their 5 starters are former MVPs, two of their 5 starters are former No. 1 general draft picks. And have you learnt who’s all three? Breanna Stewart. Stewart is also a EuroLeague Girls champion, FIBA Wold Cup winner, Olympic gold medalist, four-time NCAA nationwide champion and has so many extra accolades it could take some time to get by way of her resume.
Expertise is a good factor to have in your group. Expertise is even higher. And the combination of these two issues collectively is what makes a brilliant group. It’s why the Las Vegas Aces have risen to energy over the previous 5 to 6 years; they’d all of the expertise and simply wanted the expertise to match. Now, they’re the league’s powerhouse. It’s the identical with the Liberty; all 5 starters have the expertise AND expertise essential to be a championship-caliber group.
On high of that, the Liberty core now has a complete 12 months of taking part in collectively beneath their belts. They convey higher, they know one another’s tendencies higher and so they have had time to attach off the courtroom.
Now, add in the truth that each core participant on the Liberty has began the season taking part in nice individually. They’ve been taking pictures nicely—the core is taking pictures 31.3 % from 3 by way of 4 video games and 47.1 % from the sector—and their protection has been nice, too. Stewart already has a 31-point sport beneath her belt, Sabrina Ionescu is draining 3s and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton is a wall on protection.
Sabrina Ionescu on attacking the rim: “It’s one thing I took into the offseason and actually labored on. I’ve my three level photographs, however [by] persevering with to govern defenses by stepping into the paint… it helps my teammates and helps this group win.” (Q: @GabeZoda)
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) Could 21, 2024
What New York can do even higher
The Liberty’s bench remains to be discovering it’s footing, which isn’t precisely an issue, however only a course of. After shedding their sixth lady in Marine Johannès this season, as she has remained abroad to organize for the Olympics, in addition to Han Xu and Stefanie Dolson, the group has needed to recalibrate the bench.
They nonetheless have Kayla Thornton, who got here up huge for them final season as an power participant. Nyara Sabally, lastly wholesome, appears to be discovering her method as she will increase her minutes.
Sandy Brondello on protection: “Subsequent man mentality, subsequent lady mentality. KT, it was her greatest sport, as a result of she’s a canine on protection. Guarding the handler, switching some extra. However [Stewie and JJ] guarding the RA helps the perimeter gamers.” (Q: @LucasKaplan_)
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) Could 21, 2024
Then there are the newcomers: Ivana Dojkić, Kennedy Burke, Leonie Fiebich and Marquesha Davis. All 4 are studying a brand new system after a brief coaching camp, and that may be a lot to count on from them. Simply as what occurred with the core final season, the bench will proceed to search out their rhythm because the season progresses.
What’s subsequent for the Liberty?
The Liberty have a comparatively mild schedule heading into week two of the WNBA season. They may play Chicago, one other younger group, on Thursday. After that, they’ll head to Minnesota to play Napheesa Collier and the Lynx on Saturday afternoon, fairly presumably the hardest problem they’ve confronted but this season. The Lynx have regarded nice to begin the season. Collier was simply named Western Convention Participant of the Week, and the group opened their season by going 2-0 towards Seattle.
Since they’d a heavy four-game slate within the first week, the Liberty solely have these two video games within the season’s second week. In week three, they’ll face Indiana for a 3rd time, in addition to Phoenix and Washington.
The Liberty have an honest probability of opening the season undefeated at 9-0 by way of the primary three weeks. And even when they fall to Minnesota, 8-1 will not be terrible both. They’ll have to sustain their present power, proceed to play by way of Stewart and Jonquel Jones and never get themselves into any late-game, crunch-time conditions.
Up to now although, issues are trying incredible for the New York Liberty!
