The Liberty recently defeated the Las Vegas Aces on August 6 to hand them their third loss of the season. This game also featured the best attendance — an 11,418 sellout — for a Liberty game since the organization first started playing at Barclays Center in 2021.
A 38-point trouncing of the Aces was the largest margin of victory for the Liberty this season. What does New York have to repeat to win that Commissioner’s Cup prize on August 15? Here are three keys for Liberty to win.
Three Point Shooting
The Liberty are first in three-point shots made at 11.1 per game. In their victory against Las Vegas on August 6, New York made 17 three-point shots to finish at 44.7 percent on the night. Sabrina Ionescu led the team with six made from long-range while Breanna Stewart added on four more.
Most notable is that the Liberty’s three-point shooting has increased during their current winning streak at 12.4 made threes per game. Ionescu is currently third in the league in three-point percentage at 44.8 percent. Furthermore, the Liberty’s losses this season have more-or-less fallen on their three-point shot.
Controlling the Paint
The biggest key at this point in the season is the progression of Jonquel Jones and having her assert herself more in the paint. In their win against the Aces on August 6, Jones netted a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds. Since July 21, Jonquel is averaging a double-double with 15.3 points per game and 12.2 rebounds per game.
Overall, the Liberty’s dominance inside has been just as key in their victories as their outside shooting. New York had double the number of rebounds as Las Vegas did in their win in a 48 to 24 margin. The Aces will also be without Candace Parker, who remains out with a foot injury.
Defense
The most glaring issue at the beginning of the season for New York was their defense. More or less, their lack of playing. However, coach Sandy Brondello has stressed the team’s improvement on defense. Breanna Stewart said the following this win against the Aces:
“I think the statement we made was we’re a team that plays hard and when we lock in and are all on the same page defensively and offensively it’s hard to stop.”
Breanna Stewart after the Liberty’s win over the Aces
Stewart has emerged as a potential defensive player of the year recently. Having Jonquel Jones control the paint has allowed Stewart to defend in transition.
Also, the Liberty recently saw Stefanie Dolson return to the line-up after being out for nearly seven weeks. Dolson also adds a defensive edge to the Liberty’s game and is key in setting screens and working the pick-and-roll game.
