On the way for a better 6-0 start from the franchise, the New York Liberty welcomes 1-5 Connecticut Sun Sunday afternoon during the first match of the Commissioner’s Cup for the two teams.
The Liberty reached the final of the tournament in the season last season, losing against the Lynx of Minnesota, but then beat the Lynx 3-2 in the WNBA 2024 final.
New York is one of the two unbeaten teams (the Lynxs are the others), leading the Ligue in a score (90.5 points per game) and authorized points (74.5).
Breanna Stewart leads Liberty with 19.0 points per game, tied to the eighth of the League. Jonquel Jones is second in the WNBA with 11.4 rebounds per match.
Friday, New York shot Washington 85-63, holding the mystics at 28% shooting in the second period. Jones posted the 26th double-double of his Liberty career, New York going to 26-0 in these competitions.
“You see the impact she has. JJ, with the 18 plates this evening. She is another stretchy player … and her ability to enter and finish games, define excellent screens and open her teammates … She is a key element,” said Liberty Sandy Brondello coach. “I told the players, let’s kiss the opportunity we have. We play back. We have some of the best players in the world, and they have a commitment to excellence.”
Sun coach Rachid Meziane won his first career victory in the WNBA on Friday while the Sun held Caitlin Clark-Sans Indiana, 85-83. Meziane received the game ball and a bottle of water in the locker room.
It was difficult to fight for the sun this season, with discussions on the sale or move of the franchise and a large part of the team of the playoffs last year threw or exchanged.
The veteran Tina Charles leads the sun with 17.2 points per game with Marina Mabrey adding 16.2.
“I think we have a team that does not have much experience, we just gathered with a new coach and there will be growing pain that will be difficult to work,” said Mabrey after marking a summit of season 26 against fever. “I think right now, we must continue to develop and understand what things work for us and do them every night.”
With the victory on Friday, the Sun became the second WNBA franchise with 500 victories (Los Angeles Sparks). The franchise has 440 victories in Connecticut and 60 as a miracle of Orlando.
New York won three of the four games last season with the Sun.
– field level media
