Starting to head in the right direction? The New York Liberty took on the Phoenix Mercury last Friday night at Barclays Center and came away with a grimy win. A win’s a win and this team needs them in the worst way, so they’ll take what they can.
The opponent tonight is making a pretty good first impression. The Toronto Tempo have gotten off to a good start and improved to 5-4 on the season after beating the Seattle Storm on May 30.
Where to follow the game
USA Network is the place to be. Tip after 7:30 p.m. ET.
Injuries
Marine Fauthoux
is making progress, but won’t be playing. Sabrina Ionescu is dealing with a back injury and the team hopes to have her back soon. She’s out tonight.
Temi Fagbenle and Isabelle Harrison are out.
The game
Tonight promises to be a special night. The Liberty will welcome Isabelle Harrison, Brian Lankton, Olaf Lange, and Sandy Brondello back to Brooklyn! They were all members of the 2024 championship squad and had plenty of great memories here in New York.
“It’s going to be great,” Breanna Stewart said. “It’s going to be really welcoming for her. I think that the fans obviously love [her] and will always show respect to her anytime she comes back.”
There will be plenty of tributes, hugs, and good feelings tonight.
On the court, the Liberty will look to slow down an old nemesis. Marina Mabrey has fit in well with her new team and has historically given the Liberty fits over the years. Marina has a great chance to make the All Star team this year and can take games over at a moment’s notice. Having Leonie Fiebich and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton back should give the team two plus defenders that can battle with Marina for 40 minutes.
We’ll get to watch two rookies shine tonight. Kiki Rice recently moved in to the starting five and has done incredibly well in her new role. Rice is shooting 40 percent from three point range and keeping her turnovers to a minimum. As the Tempo continue building for the future, youngsters like Rice will play a big part in their success.
For New York, Pauline Astier has done an outstanding job substituting for Ionescu in the starting five. Astier’s finishing ability at the rim has been a revelation and helps the Liberty offense maintain a balanced attack. Teams have been going under on screens against her, and she’s made them pay to the tune of 47.1 percent from three point range. You wonder when the scouting report will reflect what she’s doing every night. For the Liberty’s sake, they hope everyone remains late to the party.
It’ll be interesting to see how many fans choose to attend tonight’s game vs. who stays home to watch the Knicks face off vs. the Spurs in San Antonio. The Liberty are averaging 16,259 for the season, second in the WNBA to the Golden State Valkyries. That’s 92.6% of Barclays Center capacity. Last Sunday, the Libs drew an SRO crowd of 17,622, a season high so far. In theory, fans will be able to both go to the game then race home to catch the second half of the NBA Finals Game 1. Libs start at 7:30 in Brooklyn, Knicks vs. Spurs an hour later in San Antonio.
Player to watch: Nyara Sabally
Hey, we know her! Liberty fans got to watch Nyara Sabally save the day in the 2024 Finals and be a positive presence in the community throughout her time in Brooklyn. When Sabally was taken by the Tempo in the expansion draft, it was a sad day for New York but a happy one for Toronto fans who get to watch a young center grow into becoming a solid player. Having her coach from New York has made the transition to Toronto easier and the support she’s received everywhere in her career has been incredibly valuable
Of all the people who get cheered in this homecoming, Sabally’s might be the loudest.
Nyara will match up against her vet tonight. Jonquel Jones is the centerpiece of the Liberty’s attack and when she is engaged on both sides of the ball, the Liberty’s potential is limitless.
From the Vault
Got a doubleheader today. First up, let’s revisit Nyara Sabally’s finest night and the greatest day in Liberty franchise history
And later tonight, the NBA Finals will begin in San Antonio as the Spurs look to end the New York Knicks’ dream run. It’s the Knicks’ first Finals appearance since 1999. Who did they play then? Funny you should ask that…
More reading: The Stomp Swish Appeal, Breakaway, SB Nation, Women’s Basketball Roundup, The Local W, New York Daily News, No Cap Space, New York Post, Newsday, The Athletic, NY Liberty Fan TV, Fansided, Just Women’s Sports, Winsidr, The Stomp, The Post Presence, Her Hoop Stats, Yahoo Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports, and The IX Basketball
- New York Liberty Game Notes – New York Liberty
- Toronto Tempo Game Notes – Toronto Tempo
