Liberty Falls Short in Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS — The Liberty had high hopes not long ago.
Yet, just a month later, they found themselves facing a significant setback, suffering a 20-point defeat against the Fever in Indianapolis. The disappointing result prompted a players-only meeting, along with several tough conversations among the team.
Afterward, the Liberty seemed to come back with fresh energy, introducing a new starting lineup, which included Rebecca Allen. This shift ignited a newfound confidence within the team, and they began to eye a championship.
Since their last match against the Fever, New York has posted a strong 7-1 record.
Tuesday’s game was somewhat about seeking redemption for that painful loss back in July.
However, Liberty looked oddly familiar to what they had been before—that team that previously struggled against Indiana and lost 106-92.
They didn’t pressure the Fever effectively, allowing the opposing players to dictate the pace. The Fever’s star guards proved to be particularly troublesome for New York throughout the evening.
Kelsey Mitchell shone with a game-high 28 points, scoring 20 of those in the first half. Meanwhile, Kaitlyn Clark contributed 22 points and 10 assists, shooting an impressive 8-of-12 from three-point range, with 7-of-8 coming in the first half.
Aliyah Boston also made her mark with 19 points and seven rebounds.
Unfortunately, Liberty’s defense seemed out of sync and sluggish, failing to close gaps effectively.
On a night when they needed to show their resilience, they just didn’t bring it.
The game highlighted the absence of key players Leoni Fievich and Sato Sabally, both of whom have been unavailable for over a month with unclear timelines for their return.
Liberty struggled defensively, conceding 64 points in the first half—the third-highest total they’ve allowed in franchise history.
The Fever managed to hit 22 of 37 shots (59.5 percent) in the first two quarters, impressively sinking 11 of 14 (78.6 percent) from beyond the arc.
New York tried to rally at the beginning of the third quarter, going on an 11-2 run to pull within nine points with 6:51 left. They came close again, but that was as far as they got.
Ultimately, the Fever sealed Liberty’s fate with a decisive 19-8 run to finish the third quarter.
