Liberty vs. Aces: A New Chapter in Rivalry
LOS ANGELES — The ongoing competition between the Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces is set to continue. The first match of the season between these two teams is on Tuesday.
This game will serve as a buildup to the upcoming Commissioner’s Cup final, which will be held at Barclays Center for the first time.
However, before the Liberty can even think about securing the majority of the $500,000 prize pool, they’ve got some serious hurdles to clear.
The Aces, with a record of 12-4, present the biggest challenge for New York yet, especially after the Liberty just faced their most significant loss of the season.
Coach Chris DeMarco has emphasized a particular focus for his team during their four-game West Coast road trip.
“The biggest thing is consistency, putting together a 40-minute game both offensively and defensively,” DeMarco mentioned prior to the Liberty’s recent loss to the Sparks. “I just want consistency, not just from a game plan standpoint, but from an effort standpoint.”
Unfortunately, his hopes for consistency were dashed as the Liberty dropped a nail-biter, losing 98-97 in Los Angeles at the start of this trip.
It was a match that reflected two different halves for the Liberty. They had a commanding lead of 17 points at one stage in the third quarter but suffered a substantial collapse.
This wasn’t the first time the Liberty saw a double-digit lead slip. So, the question remains: how will the Liberty respond with a rival looming ahead?
Will they find their footing again? Or will they continue to struggle? It’s a tense moment for fans and players alike.
Meanwhile, Bethnia Laney Hamilton missed her second straight game due to a procedure on her surgically repaired knee. Although she was available on Sunday, she remained on the bench.
Coach DeMarco explained that taking her out was part of the team’s “return” plan. Specific details concerning her condition weren’t shared.
This season hasn’t been kind to Laney Hamilton, who signed a one-year $400,000 contract with New York. Early in the season, she left for “personal reasons.” After returning, she found herself shifted to the bench.
In 11 games this season, she averaged 6.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.
On a different note, Sato Sabally made her debut in Liberty’s starting lineup on Sunday, taking the place of Marine Johannes, who came off the bench for the first time this season.
When asked about the change, DeMarco stated, “I thought it was Sato’s time. It’s hard to get her to come off the bench and play the minutes we want. So we just wanted to have size. We have a lot of confidence in her ability to make defensive 3-pointers and her size and everything that goes with that.”
