Liberty’s Defensive Struggles Continue
The Liberty defense is not what it was at the start of the season, where they held all opponents to under 88 points in their first nine games. They’ve had to adjust significantly after losing key defensive player Betniya Rainey Hamilton to a season-long suspension following knee surgery.
This year, the squad has shown some defensive weaknesses, allowing an average of 97.3 points per game. This decline was particularly evident in a recent game against the Lynx, where they faced their second 100-point loss in just six contests.
After a disappointing defensive showing, head coach Sandy Brondello expressed frustration about the effort, especially in light of offseason addition Natasha Cloud’s contributions.
With Leonie Fevich competing in Eurobasket for Germany and Jonquel Jones nursing a right ankle sprain, the team faced the Atlanta Dream without some of their key players. However, Blondero insisted that injuries should not serve as an excuse. “I don’t care who isn’t with us,” she declared after the match. “What we have, this is it.”
It looks like Liberty will have Fevich back for their July 3 matchup against the Sparks, following Germany’s recent games in the tournament. But, as for Jones, reports indicate her ankle injury might keep her sidelined longer than expected.
Blondero criticized Liberty’s performance after the game against the Mercury, labeling them as “soft.” They allowed 61 points in the first half and conceded an alarming 18 three-pointers. She remarked on the lack of toughness they displayed on the court.
The Mercury proved to be yet another challenging opponent, with seven of Liberty’s last eight rivals hitting over 41% from the field. Although Liberty’s offense was previously powered by standout players like Brenna Stewart and Jones, concerns about their defensive capabilities lingered. This was surprising, given their strong defensive track record in previous seasons, where they maintained a top-three defensive rating.
Despite the ongoing injuries, Liberty’s identity seems shaky until Jones and Fevich return. Unfortunately, Rainey Hamilton won’t be back this season. They made attempts to rally during the third quarter against the Mercury, but Cloud admitted that they couldn’t keep the momentum going. For them, consistent defensive performances are crucial. “If we can do those defensive runs,” she said, “that just means we can keep it going for the whole game.”
Liberty has shown moments of brilliance on offense, leading the league with an impressive offensive rating of 108.5. They’ve set and tied the record for the most three-pointers made in 19 games across the season. However, there are concerns about whether that alone is enough to sustain them through a long season and into the playoffs without a solid defensive foundation.
“We often say we have a lot of weapons on the offensive edge through our roster,” Cloud noted. And while that’s true, it’s clear that balanced performance will be vital moving forward.
