MONTREAL — Observations from the Liberty Game

This past Sunday, the urgency of Sabrina Ionescu and Brianna Stewart was palpable. After a challenging game in Minneapolis, where New York fought hard but couldn’t quite clinch a win, the duo stepped up in an effort to turn the tide for the Liberty.

In the second half, Stewart was particularly impactful, scoring 18 out of his 22 points. Ionescu, on the other hand, tallied 12 of his team-leading 28 points during the crucial fourth quarter, helping the Liberty overcome a 15-point deficit against the Toronto Tempo.

Despite their determination and spirit, the Liberty ultimately fell short, losing 93-91. “We had a great group that played hard, made stops, and tried to push the ball in transition,” Ionescu remarked, reflecting on their performance. “I think all the players, especially in the second half, played with aggressiveness and did their best to get the win.”

It’s been a tough stretch for the Liberty, who have recently struggled to avoid early deficits. In five of their past seven games, they found themselves trailing by 13 points or more, and their record in such scenarios stands at a disappointing 0-5.

When asked about the ongoing challenge, Stewart didn’t have a clear answer on why the team keeps getting into these situations.

The Liberty currently ranks 10th out of 15 teams with a record of 5 wins and 6 losses in tight games. An unusual incident during the match—where Bethnia Rainey-Hamilton was ejected for accidentally hitting a teammate with a shoe—certainly didn’t help the team’s momentum.

New player Pauline Astier emphasized the need for Liberty to “wake up sooner” and seize control of games right from the start. “It should be the whole game, not just the last quarter or second half,” she pointed out, highlighting frustrations shared by fans and players alike. “We’ve got to be better throughout the 40 minutes.”

Astier believes that better play in the first half could boost their confidence, allowing them to maintain that momentum later on. “If I can play at full strength the whole game, I’ll be more confident,” she shared. “With improved communication and consistent effort throughout the game, we could control key possessions more effectively. Maybe then we wouldn’t have to sweat out the last moments. So, yeah, I’m aiming for more consistency.”