NY Liberty vs. Connecticut Sun preview: Opening Day!

BROOKLYN, NY - MAY 4: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton #44 of the New York Liberty poses for a portrait during media day at Fuse-BK in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of

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What is the story about?

The WNBA is back and the New York Liberty are hoping to make it back to the WNBA Finals. When we last saw the seafoam, they were in the midst of a frustrating and ultimately disappointing playoff exit at the hands of the Phoenix Mercury. With a retooled roster and plenty of other changes, they’re looking to get back in to title contention.

The opponent tonight is embarking on one final trip around the Sun. The Connecticut Sun will be playing their final season in Uncasville following their sale to the Houston

Rockets. It’s a sad end to what has been over two decades of successful basketball in Connecticut, but that’s just how it goes sometimes unfortunately.

Where to follow the game

ION on TV and streaming. Tip after 7:00 p.m. ET.

Injuries

Sabrina Ionescu is out due to an ankle injury. Rebecca Allen is out but hopes to make her season debut on May 10. Leonie Fiebich and Raquel Carrera have overseas duties and won’t be playing. Satou Sabally is out with a cyst. Just this morning, the Libs signed Aubrey Griffin, a forward and Julie Vanloo, a guard, to hardship contracts.

For the Sun, Aaliyah Edwards, Leila Lacan, Shey Peddy, and Nell Angloma are out.

The game

It’s 30 years of the WNBA, and the New York Liberty are taking it back to the essence

NetsDaily will be on the scene and we’ll get a first hand look at the cool gear!

It’s a new era in Brooklyn as Chris DeMarco is the head coach of the Liberty. Throughout training camp, the team has spoken about getting to the paint more often and playing with better spacing. After leading the W in three point attempts for three consecutive seasons, they fell to fourth in 2025. If the Liberty can strike the proper balance between getting great shots at the rim and quality looks from three point range, their offense can reach new heights.

With Ionescu out, Pauline Astier will likely get the start at point guard. Astier was excellent in the team’s preseason finale and will get all the minutes she can handle tonight. She and Marine Johannes will take turns running the offense and will have to stay one step ahead of Saniya Rivers. Rivers had a tremendous rookie season and will be one of the players this franchise counts on going forward.

The matchup in the middle. Brittney Griner is holding the center position down in CT these days and has always been a matchup nightmare. BG’s soft touch and physical presence has helped her to be one of the best players in league history and someone defenses always have to be mindful of. Jonquel Jones and Han Xu will be tasked with slowing BG down on one side while forcing her out on to the perimeter on the other side. Chris DeMarco has spoken about utilizing Jones all over the court, and JJ’s skills should shine even more in this new system. When Jones asserts herself on the boards, the Liberty are impossible to beat. From Seerat Sohi at The Ringer:

“Jones, at 6-foot-6, can see over the competition, and her targets can, too—the Liberty roster has five rotation players over 6-foot-4. DeMarco has a lot of height to play around with, and he hasn’t shied away from experimenting. Han Xu, at 6-foot-11, has shared the floor with Jones and Stewie at different times this postseason. This year’s Liberty offense, which has modern giants roaming the floor, could be downright extraterrestrial.“

Sky’s the limit.

Breanna Stewart will be essential to the Liberty’s success this season. With Sabally out, Stewie will pick up more of the slack for her All-Star teammate. The coaching staff is mindful of not putting too much on the available players, but once the game begins and everyone’s in the flow, things tend to change.

Stewart had a solid preseason and is coming into the season fully healthy for the first time in a while. For New York, Stewart’s length and timing on both sides of the ball take them from a good team to championship contenders. Aneesah Morrow will be tasked with bothering Stewart on both sides of the ball. With Edwards out, the Sun’s frontcourt depth will be tested. Connecticut will need a lot from their 2025 first round pick tonight, and we’ll see what she can do.

Player to watch: Kennedy Burke

Hey KB, hey!! Burke was on the team for two years and was part of the championship winning team in 2024. Burke joined the Sun this off-season and will start in the frontcourt. Before her injuries last season, KB was one of the best three point shooters in the league. After her return, she struggled to find her form. Now that she’s on a new team, she’ll get to work with an expanded opportunity and a new system where she can showcase her game. Burke has a quick first step and someone that is at her best when she’s driving to the rim. And with this being her first game on a new team and first game as an opponent in Brooklyn in a while, look for her to get a nice tribute and round of applause (the same goes for former Liberty trainer, Terri Acosta!) from the hometown crowd.

Welcome back, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton! Bee is back after missing 2025 with a knee injury. Laney-Hamilton’s presence was sorely missed on this team and her combination of scoring, toughness, and determination work perfectly with this Liberty team. With Ionescu out, Laney-Hamilton will take on some more ballhandling duties and will initiate the offense here and there. The big concern of course is managing her workload, so don’t expect a heavy workload for her tonight. Either way, it’s great to see her back.