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New York Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Leonie Fiebich's absence proving costly for Liberty: ‘Please come back'
We've got you covered on the Liberty beat Text with Madeline Kenney as she follows the Liberty — she's sharing behind-the-scenes info and insights with Sports+ subscribers. SIGN UP NOW SAN FRANCISCO — Liberty center Nyara Sabally reached for her phone and fired off a tongue-in-cheek text to Leonie Fiebich last week. 'Please come back.' Advertisement Of course, the Liberty are in full support of Fiebich's pursuit to win a medal for her native Germany at EuroBasket. But Sabally's three-word text is a sentiment shared by the team, especially considering New York is without at least another starter, Jonquel Jones, for the foreseeable future.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shorthanded Liberty's rut continues with sloppy loss to Storm
An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty dribbling the basketball We've got you covered on the Liberty beat Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA. tRY IT NOW SEATTLE — Sandy Brondello had mixed feelings about the Liberty's 89-79 loss Sunday. Advertisement One one hand, she was let down by the fact the Liberty let a winnable game slip through their fingertips. New York committed a season-high 21 turnovers, which the Storm converted into 22 points. The Liberty also missed too many layups. On the other, she was pleased with the team's effort through the final horn considering it was down three starters, including Sabrina Ionescu, who woke up with a kink in her neck Sunday morning. 'Regardless of who was in or out, [Sunday] was an opportunity for us to be better and I thought we played really hard compared to the last few games,' Brondello said. 'We played really hard for 40 minutes. Was it perfect? No. But we were right there. We're persistent. Breanna Stewart dribbles during the Liberty-Storm game on June 22, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images 'We're disappointed that we didn't win it, but still proud of the effort they had.' Advertisement The Liberty managed to hang around the Storm all game. They were down by one at halftime and trailed by as many as 10 in the fourth quarter. New York trimmed the deficit to three twice in the final 2:20 but never mustered a big enough run to take the game over. It was the Liberty's third loss in four games, dropping them to 10-3. After the game, the Liberty weren't nearly as dejected as they were after Thursday's loss against the Mercury. The post-game messaging inside the Liberty locker room was more encouraging than critical Sunday. Breanna Stewart told her teammates 'to keep our heads up. Nneka Ogwumike looks on during the Storm-Liberty game on June 22, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images 'This isn't going to be the hardest thing that we face all season,' she said. 'We have to kind of embrace the adversity a little bit, whether it's we're down players or things happen in the middle of the game.' Advertisement Stewart finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Marine Johannès — who made her first seven shots — added 17 points and five rebounds. And Rebekah Gardner posted a season-high 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Meanwhile, Nneka Ogwumike had a game-high 26 points for Seattle. With the Liberty down to nine active players, Brondello had to get creative with the lineups. Gardner got her first start with the Liberty. Johannès started in place of Ionescu and Nyara Sabally for Jonquel Jones. Some of the miscues were because of the lineup changes. The Liberty also would've probably guarded Skylar Diggins differently had LeonieFiebich been here. Diggins had 20 points and six assists. Advertisement Stewart thinks this is a good time to experiment. 'Getting a good gel with the group that we have right now is important for later because you never know what's going to happen, especially as you make playoff pushes or things like that,' she said. 'This is a great opportunity for everyone to kind of gain experience and bigger roles and putting more on the plate.' The Liberty are 'hopeful' that Ionescu will be available for Wednesday's game at Golden State. Brondello described Ionescu's status as 'day to day.' Overall, though, Brondello isn't mad about how the Liberty played Sunday. 'We know we're down three starters,' she said. 'We're the underdogs at the moment but we competed and we nearly had the chance to win.' Brondello can live with that.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark erupts for 32 points in injury return as Fever hand Liberty first loss of season
Caitlin Clark and the Liberty handed the Fever their first loss of the season. We've got you covered on the Liberty beat Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA. tRY IT NOW INDIANAPOLIS — Fever coach Stephanie White offered some advice to Caitlin Clark ahead of the superstar's return Saturday after a quad injury sidelined her for three weeks. Advertisement It was something along the lines of, 'Give yourself grace. … It might take some time to find your groove.' White must've forgotten who she was talking to. Saturday may have been the first time in Clark's college and young professional career that she came back from an injury absence, but she looked like she was in midseason form as she helped the Fever beat the Liberty 102-88, snapping the defending champion's nine-game winning streak to open the season. Clark settled into the game almost immediately, scoring 25 first-half points. At one point in the third quarter, she drained 3s on three consecutive possessions. Advertisement She launched the ball from 34 feet on her first one, and drained the next over Marine Johannès. Clark then sank the game-tying basket, firing from 31 feet. 'It felt good,' Clark said. 'I saw three in a row go in, so that gives you a lot of confidence.' Clark is not a player who needs any extra confidence boost. She smiled, yelled and flexed her muscles. A behind-the-back pass to Aliyah Boston and the way she repeatedly threaded the needle drew oohs and aahs from the crowd. Caitlin Clark reacts during the Fever's 102-88 win over the previously unbeaten Liberty on June 14, 2025. Imagn Images After Clark sank her fifth 3 in the first half, all Breanna Stewart could do was laugh. Clark — one of the WNBA's greatest entertainers — was back, and it was like a tsunami of electricity jolted the Fever back to life. Advertisement Saturday was the Fever's best 3-point shooting outing this season. They went 17-for-35 (48.6 percent) from deep, with Clark leading the barrage by knocking in seven of her 14 attempts. Caitlin Clark attempts a shot during the Fever's win over the Liberty. Imagn Images Clark finished with 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds and received her first technical foul of the season for arguing with an official in the second quarter. Based on how aggressive she was from the jump, it was clear Clark was on a mission. Some of that drive may have stemmed from what happened the last time the Liberty played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Fever squandered a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter and fell by two points. Clark was stopped on the final play by Natasha Cloud. Breanna Stewart tries to control the ball during the Liberty's loss June 14. NBAE via Getty Images Some controversy was stirred up postgame, with the Fever saying Clark was fouled. Advertisement Cloud, though, said it was all ball. When the previous meeting's ending was brought up before Saturday's game, Clark briefly smiled. 'It's another really good opportunity for us to come out here and prove we belong with the best,' Clark said. 'This is the reigning champs, and this is the standard in the league. Everyone knows that they're really good.' The Fever showed everyone how good they can be with a healthy Clark. Indiana also welcomed back Sophie Cunningham, who had missed a few games with an ankle injury. Still, the Fever aren't quite at full strength, with DeWanna Bonner away from the team for an undisclosed personal reason. Advertisement It didn't matter Saturday, though. Sabrina Ionescu attempts a shot during the Liberty's loss to the Fever. Getty Images The Fever had plenty of offensive firepower between Clark, Kelsey Mitchell (22 points) and Lexie Hull (14). Sabrina Ionescu was brilliant in the first half for the Liberty. She scored 27 of her season-high 34 points in the first two quarters and drilled three 3-pointers, including a deep one at the half that trimmed the Fever's lead to 3. The Liberty — who were without starters Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebich — trailed at halftime for the first time this season. Breanna Stewart (l.) and Sabrina Ionescu (r.) react during the Liberty's loss to the Fever on June 14. NBAE via Getty Images The Liberty started to take control of the game with a 9-0 start to the second half. But the Fever punched back. Advertisement Clark scored or assisted on 17 of the Fever's 19 points during the Liberty's nearly four-minute scoring drought in the third quarter. The Liberty got within three points in the fourth quarter, but it became clear the Fever weren't going to blow the game this time as they closed strong, outscoring the Liberty 17-6 over the last 5:48. Caitlin Clark celebrates during the Fever's victory over the Liberty. NBAE via Getty Images 'We stuck together, we went on our own run,' Clark said. 'Just proud of everybody. … People made really big plays down the stretch.'
New York Post
7 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Liberty will be tested by tough road trip after season's first missteps
We've got you covered on the Liberty beat Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA. tRY IT NOW SEATTLE — The Liberty aren't panicking. They made that abundantly clear after Thursday's loss to the Mercury. Advertisement Nor should New York be raising any alarms. Should it be disappointed? Sure, but not shaken. The season is far too young, and the reigning champions have looked like the best team in the league for most of the first month of play. But this road trip is a fine time for the Liberty (10-2) to get back on track after dropping two of their last three games. Advertisement That, or it could be the onslaught of more trouble. The Liberty are set open a 10-day, four-city road trip Sunday in Seattle against the Storm (8-5) before heading to the Bay Area to play the Valkyries (6-6) for the third time this season Wednesday. The trip concludes with the Mercury (10-4) on Friday and the Dream (9-4) on June 29. 3 Sabrina Ionescu dribbles during the Liberty-Mercury game on June 19, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images Advertisement 'A 10-day road trip is not easy no matter how you look at it,' Sabrina Ionescu said. 'Playing four games, four different cities, traveling, not really getting complacent — obviously, any time you have that many road games, it's tough. You never get to come back home and recalibrate. And use your fans to kind of help you and you have to find your energy in an opposing team's arena. So it's not going to be easy.' The Liberty have dealt with some personnel and lineup changes because of injuries and an overseas commitment. Nyara Sabally missed six of the first eight games with a knee issue, and Jonquel Jones already has had a few physical setbacks this season. Advertisement After missing two games with a sprained right ankle, Jones aggravated that injury in the first half of Thursday's loss and will miss four to six weeks. She also missed a game with an overextended hamstring. The Liberty also are without Leonie Fiebich for the foreseeable future because she's overseas for EuroBasket. These hardships affect every team at various points of the season. The best ones, though, are able to find solutions with the players they have. 3 Natasha Cloud looks on during the Liberty-Mercury game on June 19, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images 'When adversity hits, your purpose is really challenged and we know where we want to be at the end of the season,' Natasha Cloud said. 'And so we're going to go through these growing pains early. You never want to peak too early.' One of the most concerning trends about the Liberty early this season is that they have a tendency at times to play with their food. Their sense of urgency drops, the offense gets clunky and the defense gets sloppy, and opponents take advantage of it. Covering the Liberty like never before Sign up for Madeline Kenney's Inside the Liberty, a weekly Sports+ newsletter. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters Advertisement The Liberty have gone 2-2 in games when they've trailed by 10 or more points in the second half. Once things are unglued, it can be hard to get the team back on the same page, especially on defense. And for a team like the Liberty, who use their defense to fuel their offense, it can create big problems. 'We need to have better awareness of what we're doing and why on the court,' Breanna Stewart said Saturday. '[Seattle] is a pretty good test for us. We're not always going to have every player. We're not always gonna be perfect. But how are we going to respond throughout that and still put ourselves in the best chance to win?' Advertisement 3 Breanna Stewart dribbles during the Liberty-Mercury game on June 19, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images If the Liberty aren't careful, things could unravel. But five weeks into the season, they haven't given us a reason to believe that could happen — at least not yet. Cloud said the team is going to channel that 'road warriors' mentality that helped the Liberty win their first four road games of the season. 'We're going to keep chipping away and making sure that we're getting better,' Cloud said. 'And yeah, I just want to get some wins on this road trip.'
New York Post
20-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Breanna Stewart's 35 points can't save Liberty in loss to Mercury after Jonquel Jones injury exit
We've got you covered on the Liberty beat Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA. tRY IT NOW Breanna Stewart's season-high 35-point night wasn't enough Thursday night as the Liberty fell 89-81 to the Mercury at Barclays Center. Stewart exploded for 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including a pair of 3s, in the third quarter. Advertisement But Stewart and the Liberty ran out of gas in the fourth and suffered their first home loss of the season. As much as the loss might sting, the Liberty are far more concerned about Jonquel Jones after she left the game after re-injuring her right ankle on a layup. Jones went to the locker room early in the second quarter and never returned to rejoin her teammates on the bench. Advertisement 3 Breanna Stewart drives to the basket during the Liberty's 89-81 loss to the Mercury on June 19 2025. Imagn Images The extent of injury wasn't immediately known. The Liberty trailed by three at halftime. But the Mercury — who were playing on the second night of a back-to-back — started to unravel after Monique Akoa-Makani was whistled for a tech for hitting the stanchion while celebrating an and-1. Advertisement 3 Jonquel Jones exited the Liberty's loss to the Mercuy after re-injuring her right ankle. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post Coach Nate Tibbetts was also handed a tech for arguing with an official. In an instance, the Mercury's four-point lead was cut in half. The Liberty went on an 11-1 run that included three straight baskets off Mercury turnovers that gave New York a six-point lead with 4:42 left in the third. Advertisement 3 Sabrina Ionescu looks to move the ball during the Liberty's June 19 loss. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post The Mercury regrouped and got within one of New York by the start of the fourth quarter. The Mercury and Liberty exchanged blows, and each team went on mini runs before the Mercury pulled away for good. With the Liberty down seven with 4:01 left, Sandy Brondello called a timeout to stop the bleeding. Covering the Liberty like never before Sign up for Madeline Kenney's Inside the Liberty, a weekly Sports+ newsletter. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters But New York couldn't recover. After opening the season with nine straight wins, Thursday was the Liberty's second loss in six days. The Liberty (10-2) will pack their bags to hit the road for a 10-day road trip. Advertisement New York is set to play in Seattle on Sunday before heading to the Bay. The defending champions also have stops in Phoenix and Mercury on tap.
