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 event final season, shedding 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 % capturing within the second half. Jones posted the twenty sixth double-double of her Liberty profession, with New York enhancing to 26-0 in these contests.
“You see the impression she has. JJ, with the 18 boards tonight. She’s one other stretch participant … and her means 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 we’ve. We’re enjoying on a back-to-back. We have a number of the greatest gamers on this planet, 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 discuss of the franchise being offered or relocated and far of final yr’s playoff crew discarded or traded.
Veteran Tina Charles leads the Solar with 17.2 factors a recreation with Marina Mabrey including 16.2.
“I believe we’ve a crew that does not have a whole lot of expertise, we simply got here along with a brand new coach and there is going to be some rising pains that shall 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 determine what are the issues that work for us and do them each evening.”
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.
–Subject Stage Media
