It seems the Liberty’s 48-point preseason loss to the Sky wasn’t meaningless after all.
It was a warning of what was to come.
For the first time this year, Liberty looked like it could die. For the first time this year, Liberty looked like it could be beaten.
For the first time this year, Liberty was bullied.
And for the first time this year, the Liberty lost to the Sky, 90-81, on Thursday night at Barclays Center.
Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello said before the game that her team was “caught off guard” by a tough preseason loss earlier this month. The Liberty (4-1) was fresh off a loss Thursday night.
Breanna Stewart didn’t make a field goal in the first half, but managed just three points by the end of the first half. Jonquel Jones was in foul trouble early and didn’t have much to show for the first half, finishing scoreless.
Liberty trailed by as many as 10 points in the second quarter and was down eight at halftime.
That lead grew to 11 points in the third quarter before Sabrina Ionescu sparked a ferocious 11-0 run to help Liberty tie the game at 45-45 with 5:24 left in the quarter.
And it was Ionescu who found Jonquel Jones on a nice cut with 7:44 left in the fourth quarter to give the Liberty a 68-67 lead, its first since leading 9-6 with 5:29 left in the first quarter.
Sure, last year’s WNBA runner-up was trying to change the flow of the game.
But the Sky (2-1) fought back with a knockout punch, going on a 13-3 spree to build a nine-point lead again and never looked back.
Ionescu carried the Liberty’s scoring load while her peers struggled, finishing with 19 points and six assists.
But it wasn’t enough. Stewart finished with 18 points, Betnija Rainey had nine and Jones finished with eight points in just 21 minutes played while struggling with foul trouble.
Despite emphasizing over the past two days that they knew what was coming, the Liberty allowed the Sky to do what they do best: create turnovers and score in transition.
The Sky entered Thursday in the top three in the WNBA in steals, blocks and fast-break points per game, stalking Liberty, forcing 14 turnovers and 19 fast-break points to lead 19-11 in fast-break points.
Loss of the Liberty. Noah K. Murray – NY Post
Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, a Liberty legend who is a member of the Liberty Ring of Honor and the Basketball Hall of Fame, received a thunderous applause and a video tribute in the first quarter.
This is her first season in charge of Skye.
Sky rookie Angel Reese, who was drafted seventh overall last month after starring at Louisiana State University, received a warm welcome upon her introduction, proving her popularity and impact on women’s basketball.
She finished with 13 points and nine rebounds. Marina Mabry led the Sky with 21 points.
After a night of firsts this year for the Liberty, Friday brings another one: their first losing game.
How will the superteam respond?
