Could 29, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty ahead Breanna Stewart (30) reacts after scoring a basket in opposition to the Golden State Valkyries in the course of the second half at Barclays Heart. Obligatory Credit score: John Jones-Imagn Pictures Off to a franchise greatest 6-0 begin, the New York Liberty host the 1-5 Connecticut Solar on Sunday afternoon within the first recreation of the Commissioner’s Cup for each squads.
The Liberty reached the finals of the in-season match final season, dropping to the Minnesota Lynx, however then beat the Lynx 3-2 within the 2024 WNBA Finals.
New York is one in every of two undefeated groups (the Lynx are the opposite) remaining, main the league in scoring (90.5 factors a recreation) and factors allowed (74.5).
Breanna Stewart leads the Liberty with 19.0 factors a recreation, tied for eighth within the league. Jonquel Jones is second within the WNBA with 11.4 rebounds a recreation.
New York downed Washington 85-63 on Friday, holding the Mystics to twenty-eight % taking pictures within the second half. Jones posted the twenty sixth double-double of her Liberty profession, with New York bettering to 26-0 in these contests.
“You see the influence she has. JJ, with the 18 boards tonight. She’s one other stretch participant … and her skill to get inside and end performs, to set nice screens and get her teammates open … she’s such a key half,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello mentioned. “I instructed the gamers, let’s embrace the chance now we have. We’re taking part in on a back-to-back. We have got a few of the greatest gamers on the earth, and so they’ve acquired a dedication to excellence.”
Solar coach Rachid Meziane earned his first profession WNBA win Friday because the Solar held off the Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever, 85-83. Meziane acquired the sport ball and a water bottle bathe within the locker room.
It has been powerful sledding for the Solar this season, with speak of the franchise being offered or relocated and far of final yr’s playoff workforce discarded or traded.
Veteran Tina Charles leads the Solar with 17.2 factors a recreation with Marina Mabrey including 16.2.
“I believe now we have a workforce that does not have loads of expertise, we simply got here along with a brand new coach and there is going to be some rising pains that will probably be laborious to work by way of,” Mabrey mentioned after scoring a season-high 26 in opposition to the Fever. “I believe proper now, we have to proceed to construct off of this and work out what are the issues that work for us and do them each night time.”
With the win Friday, the Solar grew to become simply the second WNBA franchise with 500 wins (Los Angeles Sparks). The franchise has 440 wins in Connecticut and 60 because the Orlando Miracle.
New York received three of 4 conferences final season with the Solar.
–Area Stage Media
