Liberty Struggle with Rebounding Issues
It’s interesting, really—a team like New York, which shared the title for being the best rebounders in the league last season, is now facing a significant challenge. The issue lies in their rebounding game this year.
Currently, opponents are averaging 2.5 more rebounds per game compared to New York. On top of that, the Liberty have allowed the most offensive rebounds in the league, giving up about 10 per game, which leads to an average of 12.1 second-chance points for their rivals.
Coach Sandy Brondello has been vocal about the need to improve rebounding, and as the season winds down—less than three weeks left—it continues to be a pressing topic.
The recent game against the Sky highlighted some of these rebounding weaknesses, with a staggering 42-27 disparity in boards.
Breanna Stewart’s absence certainly has a ripple effect on the team’s ability to rebound effectively—she contributes around 6.5 rebounds per game. However, it’s clear that the problem isn’t confined to just her or Jonquel Jones; it’s a broader team issue that needs fixing.
After Thursday’s loss, players acknowledged the struggles openly. Sabrina Ionescu pointed out, “It’s tough. It’s not always falling into the hands of big people. I think the guards have to step in and help out. The big guys can’t always get there, so everyone needs to contribute to grabbing those rebounds and 50-50 balls.”
In their next matchup, the Dream are coming in strong, currently leading the league with an average of 36.2 rebounds per game. Sure, having stars like Bryonna Jones and Brittney Griner doesn’t hurt, but players like Naz Hillman and Alisha Gray are also heavily involved in rebounding efforts.
Winning the rebounding battle will be crucial if New York wants to secure a victory in Saturday’s game. This isn’t just about playing; it’s about a concerted effort from the whole team.
Leonie Fiebich echoed this sentiment, saying, “We have to do a better job as guards, especially when the Bigs are boxed in. There’s no box-out happening, and we need to improve in these upcoming games.”
