And just like that, we’re back. The New York Liberty are back in action and looking to keep the good times going. They’re riding a three game winning streak after beating the Indiana Fever before the break.
Where to follow the game
ESPN is the place to be. Tip after 8:00 p.m. ET.
Injuries
Nyara Sabally is out with rest. Everyone else, including Jonquel Jones who’s been out for a month is back. She expects to be on a minutes restriction.
Caitlin Clark is out with a groin injury.
The game
New York took games one and three while Indy got game two.
This is the last regular season meeting between these teams.
Yesterday, the Liberty shook up the WNBA landscape. They signed Stephanie Talbot and have secured a commitment from Emma Meesseman to join the club. Lucas broke it all down here. Whew buddy!
For the Fever, they’ll have to find scoring and playmaking while Clark heals up. They’ll turn to Kelsey Mitchell and see if she can go on a heater. She scored eight points in the first quarter of the last matchup but only scored eight points in the final three quarters. The Liberty’s defense has picked back up and New York has the perfect blend of length, speed, and athleticism to make things hard on the All-Star.
With the Liberty starting five back at full strength, it’ll be interesting to see how the offense operates again. Leonie Fiebich has found her aggressiveness and has done a great job hunting for her shots. She gives the team another plus scoring option and makes it so opponents are unable to hide their weakest defenders on the court. Leo playing at this level allows even more flexibility for the Liberty to experiment and punish opponents.
It also helps to have Breanna Stewart wreaking havoc all over the place. Stewie didn’t have much of a “break” as she had other pressing business to tend to in Indianapolis, but she’s back home and ready to work. The three pointers aren’t there, but the cuts to the rim are still present as is the world class defense. She’s had a sensational season and if she can continue finding ways to score and impact the game, New York is in great shape as the schedule gets harder.
Player to watch: Aliyah Boston
With Clark out, more will be placed on Boston’s shoulders. AB’s passing has been sensational as the three time All-Star is averaging a career high 3.7 assists per game.
We’ve seen consistent growth from her since she was selected first overall in the 2023 Draft and the Fever hope she can continue adding skills to her arsenal. She had an especially rough outing last week as the Liberty held her to just 1-8 shooting from the field in 29 minutes.
Welcome back, Jonquel Jones! JJ is back after being sidelined for over a month with an ankle injury. With this being her first game back, expect Sandy Brondello to have her on a bit of a minutes restriction tonight. And with a home back-to-back this weekend, it would be wise to make sure she gets through this game at full strength so she’s set for a challenging August slate.
From the Vault
Ones in the air for Malcolm Jamal-Warner
More reading: Fieldhouse Files, Swish Appeal, Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, Women’s Basketball Roundup, The Strickland, The Local W, New York Daily News, New York Post, The Athletic. Fansided, Just Women’s Sports, SI All Knicks, Winsidr, Her Hoop Stats, CBS Sports, and The Next
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