BY NOAH ZIMMERMAN
It’s finally October, which means the air is starting to crisp up, leaves will soon turn and fall, and all eyes are turning back to the hardcourts.
From the Liberty’s playoff push, to the start of NBA preseason, to St. John’s preparing their BIG EAST title defense, the basketball capital of the world is in store for a fantastic Fall.
Liberty light up the Lynx
New York may have fallen to the #8 seed in the WNBA playoffs, but don’t let that fool you – this team is still a true and tested championship contender and they reminded everyone of that on Sunday afternoon.
The Liberty took down the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in Game 1, and in dominant fashion. Breanna Stewart showed why she’ll be remembered as one of the greatest of all time, scoring 34 points with 12 rebounds and 6 assists. She was also a force on defense, picking up a pair of steals and a pair of blocks.
The other big contributor in the Game 1 win was Leonie Fiebich, who knocked down four three-pointers and played tremendous defense. She finished with 16 points on 6/7 shooting, with 8 rebounds, 3 assists, a block, and a steal.
The Liberty hosted Minnesota in front of yet another electric sold-out crowd at the Barclays Center on Tuesday night. Following the conclusion of the series, the second round of the WNBA playoffs is set for this weekend. It’ll be a great postseason regardless of who is still in the mix.
Knicks title defense ahead
Knicks basketball is right around the corner! Your defending NBA champions get their first taste of action in 2026-27 on Monday night when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers. While the games don’t count yet, it’s a must-watch game between the top teams in the East.
Of course, during preseason you never know how many minutes the big names will play (if any). While we won’t see 20+ minutes of Jalen Brunson, LeBron James, OG Anunoby, Jaylen Brown, Josh Hart, and Joel Embiid, this is a good opportunity to see what’s in store for this season’s most anticipated rivalry.
Nets with plenty to prove
The Nets are also getting underway early next week, and Brooklyn has a lot to prove. While they’re projected to finish with one of the worst records in the NBA, this team is full of young talent and untapped potential.
Unfortunately it will be a slow start for top draft pick Mikel Brown Jr., who reportedly twisted his ankle as training camp began this week. The guard out of Louisville was recovering from injury over the summer and will now miss some time in the buildup to his first professional season.
Still, you never know what you’ll get from veteran scorers like Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle, as well as other young players like Egor Dëmin and Nolan Traore. It will be a low-pressure season, setting up some potentially eye-turning basketball under Head Coach Jordi Fernandez.
St. John’s preps for preseason
Johnnies basketball is also steadily approaching! The Red Storm are looking to defend their back-to-back BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles, and they have some huge games coming up this fall.
Exhibition games start this month with a matchup vs Drexel at Carnesseca Arena (October 14), followed by games at MSG against Rutgers (October 18) and Texas (October 25).
