The Sky, having won 13 games, are causing more headaches for the Liberty, who are favored to do well this season.
However, the standout concern has to be rookie Sidney Taylor.
Taylor was a standout against New York in their recent matchups, where the Liberty barely managed to win; they scored 24 points against them on June 17 and 31 on July 22.
In those encounters, New York squeaked by with just a one-point victory each time.
In her latest performances, Taylor shot 9-of-17 overall and 4-of-7 from three-point range. She nearly led Chicago to an upset, saved only by Sabrina Ionescu’s late-game rally.
Taylor’s season average sits at 14.2 points, but her availability for Tuesday’s game against the Liberty is uncertain due to a left groin injury.
New York’s ongoing struggle with the Sky underscores a bigger issue.
If they can’t contain Taylor, it’s hard to see how they’ll manage to defend against stronger players expected in the playoffs.
The perimeter defense of the Liberty has been shaky all season. Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell combined for 50 points in last week’s match-up against Indiana, but the team faced a disheartening 106-92 defeat.
Indiana hit an impressive 16 of 24 three-pointers, which Liberty somewhat dismissed as an unusually exceptional shooting night from the Fever.
But that’s not the whole story. Personally, I’ve been feeling under the weather for weeks now, and it’s been tough to shake off.
Liberty did manage to limit the Sparks to 6-of-9 from three-point range during a 40-point explosion in the fourth quarter of a recent game.
This season isn’t doing any favors for the Liberty, as they find themselves in the bottom five for opponent three-pointers made (averaging 9.3 per game) and three-point shooting percentage (35.5 percent).
Unfortunately, things have worsened over the last 15 games, with New York allowing an average of 10.1 three-pointers per game at an unsettling 38.4 percent shooting average.
Injuries to the Liberty’s wing players have only compounded these issues.
Leonie Fibich, who would typically serve as a crucial perimeter defender, hasn’t played since July 3 due to a foot injury.
Sato Sabally, who was brought in this offseason for defensive depth, is grappling with lingering effects from his second concussion in under a year.
And then there’s Bethnia Laney Hamilton, a former WNBA All-Star who was pivotal to the 2024 championship, now away from the team.
Liberty entered the season with the expectation that they had sufficient depth on the wing.
Now, though, they find themselves without three players who would have contributed size, versatility, and strong defensive capabilities, leaving the remaining players with a heavy burden.
There’s an expectation for the front office to take this issue seriously, or at least show some urgency about it.
General manager Jonathan Kolb can’t predict injuries, of course. He did know about Sabally’s injury history when he signed him, and there’s always a risk with a player returning from significant surgery or a lengthy absence, like Laney Hamilton’s case at 32.
But one has to wonder how much blame lies with the coaching staff and the players regarding game preparation and execution.
It’s a group effort.
New York has faced difficulties containing skilled guards.
Fibich is likely to return at some point this season, but Sabally’s situation is less certain.
Fivic’s return should bolster the team’s capabilities.
Until that happens, though, Liberty may find themselves in a tough spot.
