By Noah Zimmerman | noah@queensledger.com
The Liberty limped their way to the end of June, dropping five of their final seven after starting the season 9-0. Without star center Jonquel Jones, they’ve had a tough time on both slides of the floor with their lead in the East shrinking to half a game.
It seemed New York was going to begin righting the ship with a late win against the Valkyries in Golden State on Friday, but momentum swung right back with their largest margin of defeat this season in Phoenix and a tough loss to 2nd place Atlanta. In Phoenix, the Liberty had six players in double-figures, but Breanna Stewart’s team-high of 17 wasn’t enough to match Satou Sabally’s 25 for the Mercury. Satou’s sister Nyara Sabally added 16 for the Liberty.
In Atlanta, New York couldn’t stop the Dream’s shooting touch as they hit 53% of their shots, led by Brionna Jones’ 21 points and 20 from Allisha Gray. Natasha Cloud picked up her second 20-point game of the season and Stewart put up 21 in the losing effort for NY.
Some good news for New York is the return of Leonie Fiebich from international duty with Germany in the EuroBasket tournament. Fiebich averaged 14.8 points and 6 rebounds in her 6 games with Germany. The forward has been absent for New York’s entire seven-game skid and will provide shooting and playmaking on offense with size and versatility on the defensive end.
On Thursday night the Liberty will begin a vital homestand spanning nearly the entire month of July. They host the LA Sparks in the first of eight consecutive games at the Barclays Center. Los Angeles is one of five teams under the .500 mark, and New York will hope that they provide the spark needed to get back on track.
Following the game on Thursday, the Liberty will host the Seattle Storm on Sunday, July 6 at 1pm before taking on the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday July 8 at 8pm.
In other Liberty news, Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart were both named starters for the WNBA All Star Game later this month. In their 12 games together they have both averaged over 20 points per game, the first time in Liberty history and fifth time in the W that two teammates have done so. The selections are Ionescu’s fourth and Stewart’s seventh, and the two will hit the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on July 19.
