Liberty aim to end losing skid with visit to struggling Sun
This is the first of a two-game set in Connecticut between the defending WNBA champion Liberty (17-9) and the Sun (4-21), with the second contest on Sunday afternoon.
The short-handed Liberty are coming off a 100-93 loss at the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday. All-Star guard Sabrina Ionescu scored 31 points along with five rebounds and four assists in the loss.
Two-time Most Valuable Player Breanna Stewart (right knee bone bruise) is out indefinitely. Nyara Sabally (knee) and Kennedy Burke (calf) also didn't play. Natasha Cloud battled through sickness.
Ionescu lauded the Liberty's effort in the narrow defeat.
"If there's ever a good loss, this was one of those losses that you can live with," Ionescu said via the New York Post. "Everyone played as hard as they could. Natasha was sick and played through it. Just really proud of the way we were able to fight back and that's the standard."
Help appears to be on the way for the Liberty, who signed forward Emma Meesseman to a contract on Friday morning.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed for Meesseman, who will debut Friday night.
Meesseman, 32, is two-time All-Star and the 2019 WNBA Finals MVP. The 6-foot-4 forward last played in the WNBA in 2022 for the Chicago Sky, averaging 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 36 starts.
The explosive Liberty are first in the league in points (87.9) and 3-pointers (10.0) per game.
Meanwhile, the Sun have the worst record in the WNBA and have dropped five of the last six games, most recently a 101-85 loss to the visiting Seattle Storm on Monday.
Bria Hartley led the Sun with 17 points and four assists. Tina Charles, in her 14th season, surpassed 1,000 assists in her career in the loss. According to the Sun, she's the lone player in league history with at least 8,000 points, 4,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists.
After routing the expansion Golden State Valkyries 95-64 on Sunday, the Sun had a chance for their first winning streak of the season. Instead, Seattle shot 60.9 percent from the field (42 of 69) and made nine 3-pointers in 20 attempts (45 percent) to burn Connecticut.
"I know we played (a back-to-back) but that's not an excuse," Sun rookie forward Aneesah Morrow said via CT Insider. "We have to show up every day and defend. We have to be intentional about our defense."
In the first meeting this season, the host Liberty cruised to a 100-52 victory over the Sun on June 1. Ionescu paced New York with 18 points and Charles had 10 points for Connecticut.
--Field Level Media
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
32 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Nationals, A's intent on getting on track in series opener
The Washington Nationals look to stop a five-game losing streak when they open a three-game series against the visiting Athletics on Tuesday. HT Image Washington was outscored 38-14 while it was swept by the first-place Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend and has lost 17 of its past 24 games. "We've just got to dig deep," catcher Drew Millas said of a young Nationals team that saw a group of veterans traded at the deadline. "We've got to come together as a unit and want each other to do well, want each other to win, want the best for each other." The Nationals will open the week behind someone whose name was rumored to be in trade talks: All-Star left-hander MacKenzie Gore (4-11, 3.80 ERA). He will be opposed by veteran right-hander Luis Severino (5-11, 4.83 ERA). Gore is 0-3 with a 10.66 ERA since the All-Star break. In his most recent outing, he was roughed up for six runs on eight hits - two of them home runs - in 5 1/3 innings against the Houston Astros, the day before the trade deadline. "I threw the ball much better, but homers, you don't get those back," Gore said. "Those two homers are kind of the pitches that I'm sure I'll think about for a bit. But I thought we threw the ball better than we did last time." Gore won his only previous start against the Athletics, tossing five scoreless innings last season. Severino has won three straight starts while posting a 2.65 ERA with 17 strikeouts over 17 innings in that stretch. Against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday, he allowed one run on five hits over five innings. It was Severino's first win in 13 starts at the team's temporary home at West Sacramento, Calif. "Any time you experience new or change, it takes time to make the adjustment to get comfortable," A's manager Mark Kotsay said. "I think (Severino's) found a rhythm here and a comfortability with his surroundings to be able to just focus on going out and performing." Severino is 4-2 with a 3.03 ERA over 10 road starts this season. He is 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three career starts against Washington. The A's have dropped two straight following a 6-4 home loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. JJ Bleday hit a solo home run and Nick Kurtz had a two-run single. Kurtz was named the American League player and rookie of the month for July after hitting .395 with 11 homers and a 1.433 OPS. On July 25, he went 6-for-6 with eight RBIs and became the 20th player in MLB history to launch four home runs in a game. Kurtz is not the only A's player with a hot bat. Over his past 16 games, Shea Langeliers is hitting .397 with seven home runs, 14 RBIs and 14 runs scored. "He's staying on everything," Kotsay said. "He seems to be recognizing the breaking ball really well. He's on the fastball. He's seeing it really good." Washington fell 14-3 in Sunday's series finale against the Brewers. Millas had two doubles. In addition to trades that depleted the bullpen at the deadline, power hitter James Wood is in a slump. Since the All-Star break - and his appearance in the Home Run Derby - Wood is hitting .127 with no home runs, two RBIs and 27 strikeouts in 55 at-bats. --Field Level Media
United News of India
an hour ago
- United News of India
Durand Cup: Rohen Singh's screamer seals victory for Real Kashmir FC
Imphal, August 4, 2025: A stunning long-range strike from midfielder Rohen Singh proved to be the difference as Real Kashmir FC edged past a spirited TRAU FC 2-1 in a gripping Group F contest of the 134th IndianOil Durand Cup, here at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium. Earlier, the match came alive with two quickfire goals in the 24th and 26th minutes, first from Real Kashmir's Marat Tareck and then TRAU's Afridi Buyamayum, setting the tone for a fiercely contested battle in front of over 20,000 fans in attendance. But it was Rohen's 64th-minute rocket from outside the box that ultimately sealed the deal for the Snow Leopards, clinching three vital points, despite a spirited fight from the home side. TRAU FC head coach Thangjam Saran Singh opted for an all-Indian 4-2-3-1 starting eleven with Afridi Buyamayum leading the line, flanked by wingers Monis Singh and Dhananjoy Singh, while Sapam Singh manned the goal. Real Kashmir, under Ishfaq Ahmed, set up in a 4-4-2 shape featuring Ivorian striker William Sessegnon and Russian forward Marat Tareck, supported by a backline led by Seila Toure and skipper Shahid Nazir. The match began at a frenetic pace, with both sides looking to assert dominance early. TRAU had the first real chance of the match in the 13th minute when Afridi broke through, but Real Kashmir's goalkeeper Furqan Ahmad Dar was quick off his line to deny the forward with a brave stop. TRAU controlled possession and kept probing the Real Kashmir defense with clever movements and wing play. However, it was the visitors who struck first against the run of play in the 24th minute. A perfectly lofted ball from midfielder Rohen found Marat Tareck in the box. The Russian made no mistake, calmly slotting it past Sapam Singh to hand Real Kashmir a 1-0 lead. But the celebration was short-lived. TRAU responded immediately from the restart. Monis Singh burst down the right flank and delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, where Afridi finished with composure to level the scores at 1-1 in the very next minute. The end-to-end nature of the contest continued with TRAU looking sharper on the wings, combining well through Monis, Dhananjoy, and Nelson. A long-range effort from captain Shitaljit Atom in first-half stoppage time was blocked, as the teams went into the break locked at 1-1 after a thrilling opening 45 minutes. Real Kashmir came out stronger in the second half and nearly reclaimed the lead in the 52nd minute when Tareck's header from a looping cross by Mohammad Asrar was denied by Sapam Singh. Both teams kept trading attacks, but the final pass often went astray. The Snow Leopards finally capitalized in the 64th minute. After sustained pressure, Sessegnon teed up Rohen on the edge of the box, and the midfielder unleashed a thunderous strike into the net to make it 2-1. Real Kashmir nearly extended their advantage a minute later when substitute Ahteeb Ahmad got on the end of a clever ball from Tareck, but his chipped effort rolled inches wide of the target. TRAU's hopes took a further blow in the 77th minute when skipper Shitaljit Atom received his second yellow and was sent off, reducing the home side to ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, TRAU tried to hit on the counter, but Real Kashmir's defense led by Siela Toure remained resolute. In the final minutes, both teams pushed for goals, Real Kashmir in search of a third and TRAU hoping to rescue a point, but neither side could alter the scoreline. At full-time, it was Ishfaq Ahmed's men who emerged victorious, earning three crucial points in a tightly-contested Group F battle. TRAU FC, despite showing moments of brilliance and enjoying strong home support, were left to rue missed chances and a costly red card. Real Kashmir next face NEROCA FC on August 10, while TRAU FC will look to regroup before their upcoming fixture against Indian Navy FT, two days later, on August 12. UNI RKM
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Minnesota Wild set to offer Kirill Kaprizov $120M contract extension, highest AAV in NHL history for a winger
(MHM Photo / Rick Olson) The Minnesota Wild are reportedly finalizing an eight-year, $120 million contract extension with All-Star winger Kirill Kaprizov . The deal would carry a league-leading $15 million average annual value (AAV), the highest ever for a winger in NHL history. While injuries have raised concerns, the Wild appear committed to investing in the player who has become the face of their franchise and the engine of their offense since 2020. Minnesota Wild preparing record-breaking $120M extension for franchise star Kirill Kaprizov amid injury concerns Kaprizov's proposed extension would place him in elite financial territory across the NHL. Although it would still fall $4 million short of Alex Ovechkin's all-time $124 million contract, the $15 million AAV would surpass Leon Draisaitl's $8.5 million mark, making it the highest average salary ever for a winger in league history. The deal would lock Kaprizov in through the 2033–34 season, and his cap hit would take up approximately 14.4% of the Wild's projected salary cap in 2026–27. However, with the cap expected to rise in coming years, Minnesota appears willing to make that long-term commitment. Despite some injury setbacks this past season, team executives reportedly believe Kaprizov's production, leadership, and marketability justify the massive investment. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like North Carolina Introduces New Benefit For "Senior Drivers" Smart Lifestyle Trends Learn More Consistent elite production and offensive dominance make Kirill Kaprizov worth every dollar for the Minnesota Wild Kaprizov missed significant time in 2024–25 due to injuries but still recorded 25 goals across 56 total games, including playoffs. He finished third in team scoring and even received 16th-place votes for the Hart Memorial Trophy, impressive for someone who missed half the season. Since joining the team in 2020–21, Kaprizov has been the Wild's top offensive performer by a wide margin. He's tallied 185 goals and 386 points in 319 games. During that span, Minnesota has scored 1,197 total goals, meaning Kaprizov factored into 32.2% of all Wild scoring plays. His impact has been not only consistent but vital. Kirill Kaprizov isn't just Minnesota's best player, he's the pillar of their playoff ambitions and fanbase engagement. While the size of the extension may raise eyebrows, his value on and off the ice makes it a sensible move. For the Wild, securing Kaprizov long-term signals their intent to build a contender around a generational talent. Also Read: NHL trade rumor: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson linked to Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets amid trade rumors For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
