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WNBA Barrels Towards Contentious CBA Battle

BQE Admin on October 8, 2025

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

As a thrilling WNBA Finals series between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury continues out West, many eyes are turning towards the upcoming expiration of the league’s collective bargaining agreement. With controversial clashes and rocky relations across the league, many are bracing for a hard fought period of negotiation as the league approaches its next era.

At the top of the long list of issues is a new spat between WNBA MVP runner-up and Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Collier’s season came to an end with a brutal injury at the end of Minnesota’s Game 3 loss to Phoenix. In the final seconds, Mercury star Alyssa Thomas pounced for a steal, with her legs clashing with Collier’s as she took over possession.

Thomas put home a layup on the other end to finish the Mercury win and establish a 2-1 series lead, but the no-call by the refs led to an explosion from longtime Lynx leader Cheryl Reeve. Lynx players and assistant coaches had to help keep Reeve restrained as she was ejected from the game, and the coach’s comments in the postgame presser led to a suspension for Game 4. Without their star player and coach, the #1 seeded Lynx fell to the Mercury.

“When you let the physicality happen, people get hurt, there’s fights, and this is the look that our league wants for some reason,” Reeve said to open up her press conference. “I want to call for a change in leadership at the league level… it’s bad for the game.”

Reeve went on to comment on Collier’s lack of free throw attempts in a very physical series, calling the league’s choice of referee crew “malpractice,” along with some more harsh verbiage. On top of her suspension, Reeve was fined $15,000 for her comments, with the WNBA also fining the Aces’ Becky Hammon and Fever’s Stephanie White $1,000 for voicing their support for the Lynx coach.

Collier suffered multiple torn ligaments that will cause her to miss the 2nd season of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 basketball league, in which she was the inaugural MVP last year. She wasn’t any softer on Engelbert and the league’s referee issues in her exit interview a few days later. “Year after year the only thing that remains consistent is a lack of accountability from our leaders,” the WNBA Players Association Vice President said.

Collier then brought up a previous conversation with Engelbert, noting that young stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers drive significant revenue while making very little in their first four seasons of professional basketball.

“Her response was: Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court, because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t be making anything,” Collier recalled. “That’s the mentality driving the league from the top. The league believes it succeeds despite its players, not because of them.”

Engelbert denied some of her comments and said she was “disheartened” to hear the remarks made about the league’s leadership. “If the players in the W don’t feel appreciated and valued by the league, then we have to do better and I have to do better,” she said.

Some Liberty players were also vocal about Engelbert’s comments and how the league values their young stars. In an October 3 post on X/Twitter, Isabelle Harrison asked “Why won’t our commissioner talk about the fact that a transformational CBA requires a salary system that actually values the players and the revenue they drive in a meaningful way?”

Both Harrison and Natasha Cloud stated that they were standing with Collier, and Emma Meesseman posted “Phee for President” on her socials. Another Liberty star to speak out was Breanna Stewart, who currently serves as another Vice President in the WNBAPA.

“Phee and I agree – what’s best for the players is best for the business. The W’s growth depends on valuing its athletes,” Stewart said in a statement. “The CBA is where commitment is proven – and where the future of our game is decided.”

The Players Association will have some heavy requirements to meet before signing off on a new CBA, with many expecting it will require Engelbert stepping down as commissioner due to the growing rift between her and the league’s players. Between Engelbert, the referee issues, and contract valuation, negotiations are sure to be intense and long-lasting.

Whether the league can avoid a lockout is to be seen, but it would be detrimental to both the league and women’s basketball as a whole if the highly-anticipated 2026 season is delayed. The W has made leaps and bounds over the recent years, and now it’s time to see how that growth pays off for the players who have paved the way.

Liberty Clash With Connecticut as WNBA Season Winds Down

BQE Admin on September 2, 2025

Stewie Scores 19 in return to lineup

Breanna Stewart was immense on both ends of the court against Connecticut (Photo: Brandon Todd, New York Liberty)

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

Breanna Stewart made her return from injury as the Liberty took on the Connecticut Sun at the Barclays Center on Monday. After missing 13 games, Stewart made an instant impact with a team-high 19 points in a 81-79 win.

“I wanted to push it while I was out there and see how I felt,” Stewart said about playing 20 minutes in her return. “It was good to be back with the team.”

Connecticut had no answer in the first quarter as 18 of NY’s 27 points came from inside the paint. The ball was flying around as the Liberty tried to tap back into their swagger, picking up 11 assists in the opening frame. New York led by as much as 17 in the early stages of the game.

Connecticut muscled their way back into the game ahead of halftime, outscoring the hosts 21-10 to finish the half. The Liberty ball movement stagnated as they only managed two assists in the second quarter. Connecticut were able to seize the advantage early in the 3rd and the game remained tight the rest of the way.

New York found their passing touch once more in the final frame. With the ball flying around the Liberty opened up countless looks from the perimeter with some crafty backdoor cuts to the rim. They finished with 25 assists on 29 made field goals, adding to their league-leading assist percentage (73% of Liberty baskets have come from passes).

Still, they were unable to pull away even with a late scoring flurry. In the final possession, Connecticut opted not to foul and managed to force a turnover. On a fast-break in the last seconds Sabrina Ionescu and Kennedy Burke raced down to smother what would have been a game-tying layup to preserve the win.

Marina Maybrey was huge for Connecticut down the stretch, leading the way with four three point shots. In a tough matchup she and Aneesah Morrow kept hitting deep shots to keep the Sun in the game against all odds. Rookie Laïla Lacan added a game-high 22 points, showing some serious potential for a team that had significant struggles early in the season. Despite being outmatched in size, Connecticut played a physical and gritty game to match one of the best teams in the league.

“They’re young and they’re athletic. [Lacan] was a handful for us, we had a hard time containing her,” said Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello postgame.

Jonquel Jones put up yet another double-double, still undefeated when doing so for New York.

Jonquel Jones finished off yet another Liberty double-double with 11 boards and 18 points. It’s her 101st career double-double and 33rd with the Liberty who are undefeated in those games. She added a pair of threes, played strong defense, and picked up 6 assists in a terrific all-around performance.

“Obviously we win when I have a double-double, but watching the other games it’s a point of emphasis to be a little more aggressive and get the rebounds,” said Jones.

While the scoring has been phenomenal all season, the best metrics for Liberty success are found in the assist and rebounding numbers. In their 15 losses this year, 12 of them involved either losing the rebound or assist battle.

It’s been a brutal summer with tough losses and injury issues for New York, causing them to slip to 2nd in the East and 5th overall in the league. The top 8 teams will qualify for the WNBA playoffs starting in mid-September.

Guard Natasha Cloud is expected to return to the lineup on Thursday night as the Liberty take on the Mystics after she was diagnosed with a facial fracture. It’s their second to last regular season game at the Barclays Center, with the final home game also against DC on Tuesday, September 9.

A Happy 20th to the Torches!

The Timeless Torches celebrated their 20th Anniversary in style, drawing the loudest cheer at the Barclays Center all night!

The Timeless Torches, a senior dance team for the NY Liberty celebrated their 20th anniversary during Monday’s contest with Connecticut. Composed of dancers between the ages of 40 and 80 the Torches have been a crowd favorite at Liberty games since their days at Madison Square Garden.

In the second quarter, they took the floor to celebrate their milestone with a new routine. Dressed in black, the Torches lined up in formation and quickly had all eyes on them. The Barclays Center erupted as the Torches marched onto center court. By the end of a stunning routine the crowd was on their feet, roaring in support of a truly timeless performance.

It was the loudest the arena got all night, even as the Liberty and Sun faced off in an intense matchup. The Torches have truly cemented themselves as an iconic part of every Liberty home game, and for good reason. They bring an unmatched level of energy that lifts the arena’s spirits without fail each night.

Liberty Catching Fire Ahead of All-Star Break

BQE Admin on July 18, 2025

Wins over Aces, Dream give NY some much-needed momentum

The Liberty picked up a big win over the Las Vegas Aces last Tuesday. They entered the All-Star Break with two more wins vs Atlanta and Indiana. (Photo: NY Liberty, Brandon Todd)

Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

With the WNBA All Star Break coming up this weekend, the Liberty are starting to catch fire again. In their two matchups last week New York pulled off a big win over the Las Vegas Aces before staging a miraculous comeback against the Atlanta Dream. On the heels of a rough stretch, the wins ensured New York would remain atop the East heading into the break.

With Jonquel Jones injured and other Liberty players hurt, New York had a very short bench last Tuesday against Las Vegas. With Isabelle Harrison suffering a knee injury and Natasha Cloud nursing a hip problem, the Liberty only had eight players in their rotation. Marquesha Davis did not play, eventually waived by the team on Sunday.

Despite the thin reserves, New York came out on fire, knocking down early buckets for a strong start. New York supplemented their scoring with strong defense, getting a hand on as many Aces passes as possible.

In the 2nd quarter Aces star and 3x MVP A’ja Wilson took a heavy hit on a layup attempt and went down, drawing concern and an eerie silence over the Barclays Center crowd. The Aces bench rushed to check on her, and the fans applauded their former nemesis as she stayed in the game and hit her free throws. Wilson would sit out the entire second half and miss the Aces next game, a loss to the Mystics. She returned over the weekend for a tight win against the Valkyries.

Without their star, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray helped keep Las Vegas in the game. After shooting 28.6% (20% from three) in the 1st quarter, the Aces shot at a 55.8% clip (60% from three) in the 2nd. They were able to seize a 42-40 lead at the half.

The Liberty kept the ball flying around with phenomenal passing and movement in the second half. They only turned the ball over four times in the final two quarters, out-assisting Las Vegas 9-5 and 21-13 overall.

The Aces lead evaporated in an instant, with the home crowd roaring to life as New York hit clutch buckets, including an and-1 to tie the game.

It was Sabrina Ionescu who paved the way to victory for New York, finishing with 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. It was her third consecutive game with 20+ points and 5+ rebounds and assists and 6th career showing with 25+ points and 5+ rebounds/assists, a WNBA record.

With Wilson out, New York were able to stay in control of the rebound battle, something they’ve had trouble with even before the injury to Jonquel Jones. In addition to Ionescu’s eight, four other players recorded four or more boards. It was only the third time New York outrebounded opponents in the 12 games without Jones.

“Rebounding was an issue before [Jonquel] went down,” said the Liberty head coach. “We can’t always rely on JJ, so it’s good to see a full team performance on rebounding”

Leonie Fiebich matched her career high with nine rebounds, leading all players. Her impact has been vital since returning from EuroBasket, especially with the short bench.

Leionie Fiebich made her long-awaited return to the Liberty lineup. She matched a career-high with 9 rebounds against Las Vegas and set a career-best with 21 points vs Atlanta. (Photo: NY Liberty, Brandon Todd)

“I’ve focused more on attacking the rebounds,” said Fiebich postgame. “I noticed I was doing a lot of boxing out but waiting for other players to go for the rebound, so I’m just trying to attack the ball more.”

It looked like the Liberty were in serious trouble against the Dream on Sunday as they found themselves outscored 26-13 after the first quarter. New York shot a miserable 28.9% from the floor in the first half, but were able to keep the deficit within 11 at the break.

In the second half, New York tried to claw their way back. They previously overcame a 17-point deficit to Atlanta earlier this season, and they staged another remarkable run in the 3rd quarter. This time New York doubled Atlanta’s points in the quarter, entering the 4th with a 55-53 lead. They would go on to win 79-72.

This time Fiebich dominated on the offensive end, setting a career high with 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Just like against the Aces, New York were able to win the assist battle. Their 24-18 edge over Atlanta was their 8th time out-assisting opponents, and they are 8-0 in those games.

Following Wednesday’s matchup with Caitlin Clark and the Fever, a few members of the Liberty are heading to Indianapolis for the All-Star festivities. Sabrina Ionescu will be playing alongside Clark, while she’ll face off against NY teammate Breanna Stewart.

The WNBA All-Star draft also featured the first ever head coach trade, meaning the Liberty’s Sandy Brondello will be leading Team Clark while Cheryl Reeve takes over on team Collier.

The 2025 WNBA All Star Game tips off on Saturday, July 19 at 8:30pm. New York returns to regular season action on Tuesday the 22 for another matchup against Indiana.

Liberty Open July With Win Over Los Angeles

BQE Admin on July 14, 2025

Storm pick up 2nd win vs New York

The New York Liberty defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 89-79 at Barclays Center (Photo NY Liberty, Brandon Todd)

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

The New York Liberty opened up their 8-game July homestand with a thriller against the LA Sparks. They picked up a  win to slow a troublesome skid that’s lasted since their first defeat of the season. Since their 9-0 start, New York lost five of seven and have been lackluster on both ends of the court without star center Jonquel Jones.

Making a long-awaited return to the Liberty bench was Leonie Fiebich. The German made her return from the EuroBasket tournament, providing immediate relief for a thin-stretched Liberty lineup. Fiebich put up strong numbers in Germany’s quarterfinal finish, and while she didn’t fill the stat sheet too much in her return she impacted both sides of the floor.

Leonie Fiebich made her return to the Liberty lineup after international duty with Germany. (Photo: Brandon Todd, NY Liberty)

For LA, former Liberty nemesis Kelsey Plum dazzled in her first game at the Barclays Center as a member of the Sparks. Plum previously won a ring on the Brooklyn floor with the Las Vegas Aces two seasons ago. The three-time All-star scored 7 of her 13 points in the opening quarter. 

There were a number of head-turning plays in the opening half, including a clutch one-footed three-pointer by Marine Johannes amid an expiring shot clock. New York’s French guard helped ensure a razor-thin 21-20 advantage after the 1st.

Johannes continued to impress in the second quarter with one of New York’s most impressive plays of the year. In transition Johannes queued up a perfect behind-the-back pass to Breanna Stewart, who scored a layup through contact and hit the resulting foul shot.

Kennedy Burke and Natasha Cloud helped add to the first half scoring with a pair of clutch threes, but LA remained on their heels. On the following possession, Stewart eyed a pull-up jumper that rimmed out. Had the shot gone down, the arena would have exploded. Instead, the visitors were able to fend off New York through one half, leading 41-37.

In what’s often been a troubling quarter for them, New York flipped a switch in the 3rd. The Liberty’s 11-0 run continued as they seized control, pumping up the sold-out crowd. After a tough bucket, Isabelle Harrison knocked down a free throw to knot the game at 53, and the Barclays Center finally erupted. 

The hosts shot an impressive 63% in the quarter, hitting five of their seven threes. They outscored the Sparks by 14 to seize a 69-59 edge entering the final stretch. Cloud led the charge with 11 points, with Ionescu adding 10. Both would finish with impressive 17-point second halves.

LA kept the game close near the end, but the Liberty ultimately picked up a much-needed 10-point win. Given the recent troubles and with Atlanta right on their heels, head coach Sandy Brondello identified Thursday’s matchup as a must-win.

Unfortunately the Liberty weren’t able to carry over their success for Sunday’s matchup with the Seattle Storm. While they were finally able to out-rebound their opponents in back-to-back games, the shots just weren’t falling for New York.

New York couldn’t keep their momentum as they fell to the Seattle Storm for the second time this year. (Photo: Brandon Todd, NY Liberty)

After leading at the break, the Liberty only scored 6 points in the 3rd quarter. They were outscored by 16, creating a deficit they wouldn’t be able to overcome in the final period.

“They came out and executed and we didn’t,” head coach Sandy Brondello said after the loss. “We had to get a little bit tougher and have more urgency.”

To make matters worse, Isabelle Harrison went down with a knee injury, making her questionable for Tuesday night’s matchup against the Aces. With the Liberty already missing Jones, a lack of frontcourt bodies could make matters even more difficult after a 3-6 span.

After Tuesday the Liberty have five more games in their homestand. On Sunday the 13 they take on the Atlanta Dream in a pivotal matchup for Eastern Conference positioning at 3pm. Then on Wednesday night, New York hosts the Indiana Fever at 7:30pm.

The stretch of games in Brooklyn concludes with another matchup with Indiana on July 22, the Mercury on Friday the 25, and a rematch with Los Angeles on July 26.

Liberty take down Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever for 3-0 start

BQE Admin on May 27, 2025

Breanna Stewart blocks Caitlin Clark in New York’s 90-88 win in Indiana (Photo: NY Liberty, Brandon Todd)

By Noah Zimmerman

Noah@queensledger.com

The New York Liberty have opened up the season 3-0, and they’ve done it with three very impressive wins. In their quest to defend the first WNBA title in franchise history, New York trounced Las Vegas at home before hitting the road to face newly re-armed teams in the Midwest.

In Chicago the Liberty took the floor against Courtney Vandersloot, a key piece of their 2024 championship team. Vandersloot was selected by Chicago 3rd overall in the 2011 WNBA draft, and returned for a 13th season in Windy City.

Vandersloot led Chicago starters with 14 points, but rough performances by Angel Reese, Kia Nurse, and Kamilla Cardoso kept the Liberty well beyond the Skyís reach.

In her second game with New York, Natasha Cloud led all scorers with 18 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and assisting on 4 Liberty baskets. She hit 4 of New York’s 19 3-pointers, a new regular season WNBA record.

Natasha Cloud puts in a layup over Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever (Photo: NY Liberty, Brandon Todd)

Kennedy Burke scored 17 points off the bench and Sabrina Ionescu added 16 as the Liberty won in Chicago, 99-74.

On May 24th, the Liberty travelled to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Knicks would take on the Pacers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals the next day. In the WNBA edition of the NY vs Indiana clash, a packed crowd gathered to watch the league’s brightest young star and a newly improved Fever team take on the defending champs.

It seemed in the first half that New York’s firepower and defense would be too much for the Fever, but Caitlin Clark turned up in the 3rd quarter as Indiana outscored the Liberty 30-13. Clark scored 9 of her 18 points in the 3rd frame as Indiana seized a 76-68 lead entering the 4th.

Down the stretch, New York showed their toughness. They only allowed 12 Fever points, the lowest single-quarter total for either team in the game. Jonquel Jones was nothing short of dominant, picking up 14 of her team-high 26 points in the 4th.

In the final seconds, Sabrina Ionescu cut to the cup. She was able to draw a game-deciding foul, much to the dismay of the home crown. Ionescu hit both free throws as New York subdued the Fever 90-88.

Following two games this week against the Golden State Valkyries, the newest WNBA team, the Liberty head to Washington on Friday night for a date with Steph Dolson, Aaliyah Edwards, and the Mystics. They return to the Barclays Center on Sunday, June 1 for their first matchup of the year with the Connecticut Sun.

Banner at Barclays: Liberty Celebrate 2024 WNBA Title

BQE Admin on May 20, 2025

Cloud scores 22 in debut as New York beats Aces in Season Opener

By Noah Zimmerman

Noah@queensledger.com

The Liberty lifted the first pro basketball championship banner in NYC since the 70’s (Photo: NY Liberty)

A professional basketball championship banner has been lifted in New York City for the first time since the 1970s. On Saturday afternoon the New York Liberty held a banner and ring ceremony in Brooklyn ahead of their season opener against the Las Vegas Aces.

The team received their championship rings, designed by Jason of Beverly Hills in collaboration with local designers from L’Enchanteur. The stunning bling has homages to the franchise’s storied and bittersweet 28-year history as an original WNBA franchise. Some touches include a jeweled design of a leaf sprouting through cracks and a pair of gold Liberty earrings.

The championship rings were designed by Jason of Beverly Hills in collaboration with L’Enchanteur (Photos: NY Liberty)

A design of a leaf sprouting through cracks pays homage to the Liberty’s 28-year quest for a title.

On the floor, the Liberty got set to face the Aces. Two seasons ago it was Las Vegas ending the Liberty’s championship dreams in four games, but last season New York got their revenge in the semifinals en route to their first championship title.

Making a statement in the 2025 opener was new Liberty guard Natasha Cloud. The former Mystic star spent 2024 in Phoenix before being traded to Connecticut and later New York in a dramatic offseason.

Natasha Cloud was dominant in her Liberty debut, scoring 22. (Photo by Brandon Todd)

Cloud was seemingly everywhere on the court, blending in seamlessly on both sides of the game. She picked up 22 points and 9 assists on the offensive end, with 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 6 rebounds on defense.

New York held a 14-point lead at halftime but reigning MVP A’ja Wilson kept Las Vegas in it as they outscored the Liberty 25-16 in the 3rd quarter. Wilson scored 18 of her game-high 31 points in the second half, finishing with a 16-rebound double-double.

2024 Finals MVP Jonquel Jones recorded a double-double of her own with 17 points and 10 rebounds for New York. Breanna Stewart scored 25 on 10/14 shooting and pulled down 8 boards as the Liberty began 2025 with a 92-78 win.

2024 Finals MVP Jonquel Jones stares down 2024 regular season MVP A’ja Wilson on defense. Both finished with double-doubles. (Photo by Brandon Todd)

This week New York hits the road to take on the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever, both ripe with young talent and veteran stars. They’ll play former Liberty guard Courtney Vandersloot, Angel Reese, and the Sky on Thursday night before taking on Caitlyn Clark, Aliyah Boston, and the Fever on Saturday afternoon.

The Liberty return to the Barclays Center after Memorial Day as the Golden State Valkyries make their first trip to New York in their debut WNBA season. They will play a pair of games on Tuesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 29, both at 7pm.

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