New York Liberty: On the Road to a Second Championship?
With ten games played in their championship defense, the New York Liberty are poised to contend for another title. Although their undefeated start came to an end with a 102-88 loss to the Indiana Fever, the team has demonstrated exceptional performance. Despite the loss, the Liberty hold the second-best point differential (plus 15.7) for a WNBA team in their first 10 games, only surpassed by the 2016 Los Angeles Sparks (plus 16.5), who started with an 11-0 record on their way to the title. The incorporation of Natasha Cloud has been key to covering the absence of Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, while the performance of Kennedy Burke and the return of Marine Johannes have strengthened the Liberty’s bench.Better Than Ever?
With an 8-2 record at the start of the season, the Liberty have demonstrated remarkable dominance. The team has achieved resounding victories, surpassing their rivals in several games by wide margins, reflecting their superiority on the court. The history backs the Liberty’s dominance. Of the eight previous teams that outscored their opponents by an average of at least 12 points in the first 10 games of the season, six won the championship. The Liberty have shown that they could surpass last season’s performance, where they finished with a 32-8 record and reached the final against the Lynx. In addition to keeping their four main players, the Liberty added Cloud and recovered Johannes. Cloud has provided perimeter defense and playmaking, while Johannes has shown her potential off the bench. The arrival of Burke and the acquisition of Rebekah Gardner’s rights have strengthened the defense. Both players are averaging a combined 14 points and with a shooting percentage above 50% in three-pointers.No New York player averages more than 30.2 minutes per game, a mark that Laney-Hamilton, Sabrina Ionescu, and Breanna Stewart surpassed last year.
Contents
