Liberty Tops Sun for Fifth Straight Win

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The Liberty secured a narrow 89-80 victory over the struggling Sun on Monday, marking their fifth consecutive win. Yet, the performance left many uncertain about the team’s prowess.

Just two days after Brianna Stewart urged the team to file a complaint, the Liberty seemed to struggle again for much of the game.

This matchup should have been straightforward. The young Sun, having only two wins so far, were missing key players Brittney Greiner and Aneesah Moreau. New York should’ve dominated from the get-go and wrapped things up early.

But it never feels easy for them.

The trouble began when Jonquel Jones fell ill right before the game, forcing her to sit out in the second half.

As the game unfolded, the Liberty faced challenges in their offense. With the Commissioner’s Cup on the line, maintaining a strong goal differential was crucial, but they couldn’t establish a consistent flow. They had opportunities to take charge and close out the game decisively.

Instead, the Sun managed to keep the score within single digits throughout much of the fourth quarter.

Ultimately, Liberty prevailed, and that’s the important part. Yet, they certainly could have been more commanding.

Stewart led her team with 28 points and nine rebounds, recording her sixth game of the season with 20 or more points. With Jones absent, Han Shu stepped up for her first career start, contributing 14 points and six rebounds, seven of which came in the crucial fourth quarter.

Bethnia Laney Hamilton also made her mark, adding 11 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Spanish rookie Raquel Carrera saw the most playing time of her season, logging 13 minutes. She entered the game alongside Sato Sabally and Laney Hamilton midway through the first quarter. Although Carrera appeared somewhat out of sync at times while trying to adapt to the Liberty’s offensive rhythm, she still managed to finish with 7 points and 5 rebounds.

The Liberty outperformed the Sun by six points in the third quarter, carrying a nine-point lead into the final period. Diamond Miller cut New York’s lead to six with a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter.

The Sun kept pushing to reclaim the game but ultimately fell short.

Turnovers remain a persistent issue for the Liberty, who committed 19 in this game. Thankfully for them, the Sun couldn’t fully capitalize on the opportunities.