The homestand got off to a choppy start. The New York Liberty returned to action after a week off to face a solid Golden State Valkyries team. Golden State jammed up New York’s offense and were the first team to hold New York under 90 points on the season. As a result, the Liberty lost 87-70 on Thursday evening.
But Sunday afternoon will be different. It’s Sabrina Ionescu season debut!
The opponent tonight hopes to make it back to the WNBA playoffs. The Dallas Wings have undergone a variety of changes
over the years, but hope that this mix is the right mix. They were on the road Friday night and lost against the Atlanta Dream.
Where to follow the game
NBC on TV. Peacock on streaming. Tip after 3:30 p.m. ET.
Injuries
No Leonie Fiebich (rest) of Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (personal) or Marine Fauthoux (knee rehabilitation.) Will we see Raquel Carrera as well as Sabrina Ionescu? The 6’3” Spanish center is also healthy.
All clear for the Wings.
The game
In transaction news, the team released Alex Fowler and re-signed Anneli Maley who they cut, then was signed with Phoenix and is now back and happy to be so.
Jessica Shepard has been one of the biggest surprises so far in the WNBA season. Shep collected the first triple double of the season on May 19th against the Sky. What’s been most impressive thus far is her passing. Shepard is averaging a career high in assists and she’s been able to keep the offense humming. Having a big that serves as a connector in the ways that she can is immensely valuable and unlocks a lot of nifty actions on offense.
Shepard will have to do battle with Jonquel jones on the inside. JJ was one of the few Liberty players to have success on Thursday. New York couldn’t get into the paint as much as they would like, so we’ll see what adjustments Chris DeMarco has in store tonight.
This is the first leg of a back-to-back for the Liberty. Once this game ends, they’ll be back in action against the Portland Fire on Memorial Day. Busy weekend of basketball all around!
Paige Bueckers is coming off of her worst game of the season and it will be interesting to see how she responds. Bueckers went 3-13 from the field and there are always questions as to whether she is not aggressive enough hunting for her shot. Generally speaking, I prefer my top dogs to take as many shots as possible when they’re as efficient as Bueckers is.
For the Liberty, they have to make sure they keep the turnovers down. Even the most talented teams are in trouble if they turn it over too much. Once Sabrina Ionescu is back and fully in the swing of things, the Liberty should be even more dangerous.
Player to watch: Azzi Fudd
Being the number one pick comes with a myriad of pressures. As the first player selected in the Draft, your team and fans expect a lot out of you and early. You are a player that fans and critics expect to be a big time player now and in the future. It’s a lot to handle, but so far Fudd is doing the best she can with it.
Her pro career got off to a rocky start as she had to answer questions about her relationship with Paige Bueckers. Once that issue was settled, the focus came to her play on the court, and like most rookies, she struggled out the gate. Fudd had a bad debut against the Indiana Fever and missed a game due to knee soreness. Now that she’s back, she’s been assertive and starting to make a difference. Fudd has shot well and is starting to become more comfortable.
Satou Sabally is back and hoping to knock the rust off. She only played 16 minutes on Thursday, but being on the court after being out of action for seven months is a blessing in its own right. We saw glimpses of what she can do, and the more she plays, the better she will be. With a back-to-back on deck, it’s safe to assume she won’t have a heavy workload tonight. It’s a long season and the Liberty have big goals.
From the Vault
Ones in the air for Kyle Busch
More reading: Mavs Moneyball, Dallas Hoops Journal, 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, Her Hoop Stats, Yahoo Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports, and The IX Basketball
- New York Liberty Game Notes – New York Liberty
- Dallas Wings Game Notes – Dallas Wings Game Notes
- Sabrina Ionescu pumped for her delayed Liberty debut after battling ankle injury – Madeline Kenney – New York Post
- Raquel Carrera’s delayed WNBA arrival comes at perfect time for Liberty – Madeline Kenney – New York Post
- Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu to make season debut Sunday ($) – Fiifi Frimpong – New York Daily News
