Liberty’s Strong Start Under New Coach

PORTLAND, Ore. — Chris DeMarco, the new head coach of the Liberty, recognized the depth of his roster right from the start of training camp.

As the season began, his confidence in the team was only reinforced.

The Liberty kicked off their season without their star player, Sabrina Ionescu, who suffered a left foot injury in the last preseason game and is set for a re-evaluation next week.

They also missed out on Satou Sabally, who is dealing with discomfort from a cyst, alongside Raquel Carrera and Leoni Fievic, who are currently participating in the Spanish League Championship.

Despite these absences, the Liberty opened the season with a record of three wins and one loss.

They managed to secure a victory against the struggling Connecticut Sun in their home opener and clinched an overtime win over the Washington Mystics before splitting two games in Portland.

Although it’s still early, the Liberty’s promising start, even without key players, is likely to present some good challenges for DeMarco.

“We have a lot of depth, and when we’re fully equipped, there will be decisions to make, providing everyone competition,” he stated after Thursday’s 100-82 triumph.

The addition of rookie Pauline Astier seems like a great move for general manager Jonathan Kolb, as she has had a remarkable impact this season.

Astier took a moment to let fans know what makes her a sought-after player in free agency.

The 24-year-old French guard has really stepped up in Ionescu’s absence.

It’s hard to say where the team would be without her contributions.

“I don’t know,” DeMarco remarked. “She’s an incredible player. She’s consistent and adept at reading the game. If I’m open, I shoot the three; if you guard closely, I’ll drive past you; if you help, I find the open player.”

Astier’s performance is noteworthy for a newcomer.

She averaged an impressive 16.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.5 steals over her first four games, boasting a shooting percentage of 62.5 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from behind the arc.

But Astier isn’t the only one making an impact.

Marine Johannes is also posting career-high numbers, recording 25 points on Sunday and 11 assists on Thursday.

Rebecca Gardner and Julie Vanloo have provided solid support off the bench.

Remarkably, Alex Fowler scored 12 points just hours after signing a developmental contract with New York.

“We have a lot of talent, but we also have thinkers on the team,” DeMarco noted. “As a coach, it’s rewarding to work with players who really think about the game. Alex has a high basketball IQ, and when you have players like her, along with Stewie and J.J., it makes adjusting offensively and defensively much easier.”

While the start has been promising, there’s still plenty to improve on.

The Liberty can sometimes struggle with turnovers, which negatively affects their defense.

Their rebounding could also use some work.

Despite this, Jones feels optimistic about the team’s direction.

“Tuesday’s loss was a valuable learning opportunity for us. We’re addressing early-season issues, and that’s really all you can ask from a team at this point,” Jones shared.