Liberty’s Preseason Focus
The Liberty’s last few tweaks before the upcoming season, which begins later this week, aren’t really about the scores.
Instead, their final preseason matchup against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday serves as a checkpoint. It’s a moment for Chris DeMarco to test out different lineup combinations and see how well the team is adapting to a new offensive system. He’ll be looking for signs of chemistry, rhythm, and areas that need work, starting from their very first preseason game.
With a star-studded roster, the New York team has enough talent to win some games. Yet, DeMarco has emphasized since training camp started two weeks ago that they cannot skip any steps in their development.
When teams are incorporating new offensive styles and fortifying defensive foundations, it requires a gradual build-up—not a rushed sprint.
DeMarco takes a thoughtful, layered approach when introducing new ideas and adjustments; he values structure over spontaneity.
The focus right now is on establishing solid habits rather than just creating impressive highlights. “It’s crucial that we build this the right way. Every step we take is geared toward October,” DeMarco mentioned on Friday.
The Liberty’s first preseason game, played on April 25, was far from flawless. There were clear timing issues, and positioning still needs refining. The team racked up 22 turnovers.
Sabrina Ionescu analyzed the footage and noted that they executed the right plays less than 30% of the time. Surprisingly, the coaches weren’t upset or disheartened by the lack of performance; given the significant changes the team has undergone since last season, this was somewhat expected.
Ionescu said, “This is just building off what we had last time. The first game felt a bit awkward, especially just four days into learning a new offense, and folks were out of position… that’s to be expected. It’s part of the learning curve until everyone figures out where they need to go. So, I think the next game will mark a first for us in many ways. We can certainly improve on our previous numbers. If we keep building on this, everything will start to feel easier.”
It’s worth noting that the Liberty isn’t fully assembled just yet. Marine Johannes and Pauline Astier have recently joined the team, but Leonie Fievich and Raquel Carrera are still away, expected to remain with their Spanish club Valencia until the end of this month. Others like Rebecca Allen, Sato Sabally, and Bethonia Rainey-Hamilton have occasionally had their practice participation limited while ramping up for the season.
Although Sunday’s game doesn’t need to be perfect, the Liberty does need to show some signs of progress before Friday’s opener. Are they making the right decisions? Is their spacing consistent? Are defensive switches becoming more instinctive? Are they effectively communicating? Is there a flow to their possessions instead of them feeling disjointed?
“What’s essential is minimizing the gaps between plays, figuring out what the relocation needs to be, and whether we’re going to restructure,” DeMarco said. “There’s a lot for this team to grasp with our new staff, and understanding what bonds us will help us grow together.”
DeMarco plans to introduce more complexity to the offense as the season unfolds, but for now, the aim is to make the simpler tasks feel natural. When the time comes to expand the playbook, he wants the players to act instinctively.
Ionescu mentioned that the coaching staff has done a commendable job breaking things down to the minute details, explaining the rationale behind each action and movement, which she finds beneficial.
“Sometimes you’re tasked with doing things that aren’t immediately linked to the ball. As a player, understanding that ‘I’m doing this to create opportunities for my teammates’ is vital. You need to do it to the best of your ability. Everything has a purpose… When you know that, it makes you realize the importance of those actions and the speed at which they should be executed,” she explained.
