Chicago – Liberty has faced some tough competition as the defending champions during the opening week of the season.
In their first match on Saturday, New York triumphed over the Aces with a 14-point lead, and then they handed Chicago a 25-point defeat on Thursday.
However, this Saturday could present the greatest challenge yet for Liberty (2-0).
They will be up against the 2-1 Indiana team in the challenging atmosphere of Gainbridge Field House in Indianapolis.
Will New York make a strong statement against what could be one of their biggest rivals?
Or will Caitlin Clark and her teammates expose some vulnerabilities in Liberty’s game?
Let’s delve into three key points to watch.
Testing Liberty’s Fortitude
New York appears to have dominated in their first two outings.
The offensive strength of Liberty’s starting team is undeniable.
With the addition of Natasha Cloud and Leonie Fevich’s permanent promotion, Liberty’s defensive lineup has become quite formidable. They’re certainly one of the most intimidating teams in the league.
Still, they’re not without flaws, and there are aspects that need refining.
After Thursday’s comfortable victory, Coach Sandy Brondello shared her thoughts in a post-game press conference.
“I wasn’t satisfied at all; we felt awkward on the court,” Brondello mentioned. “It didn’t matter what the score was; we lacked the pace, urgency, and spacing required to advance effectively.”
These qualities are crucial when facing a team like Indiana.
Currently, Indiana boasts the league’s top defensive rating at 88.9, limiting opponents to the second-lowest points per game at 75.
For teams like Chicago, Liberty can afford some errors. But against Indiana, that won’t hold.
Three-Point Shooting Spree
Liberty made a WNBA record for three-pointers in Thursday’s game.
Out of nine players from Liberty who tried a three-pointer, eight hit at least one, finishing with a perfect 34-34. Cloud and Kennedy Burke each sunk four shots from beyond the arc.
Burke expressed her belief that this successful outing sets a positive tone for the upcoming match.
“It gives us momentum for the next game,” Burke stated. “Face-offs like this require us to be ready on both ends of the court.”
Clark’s Opportunity to Recover
Liberty’s game against Indiana follows a less-than-stellar performance from Clark.
The second-year Fever star managed just 11 points on 11 shots in her last game, marking a disappointing 5-5 on Thursday.
This was my first time observing Pro Clark, as she failed to drain any three-pointers.
Nevertheless, Natasha Howard’s impressive 26-point effort led her team to defeat the Dream 81-76.
Clark now has a chance to bounce back against the defending champions.
