Liberty’s Rocky Road Trip Reflects Their Season Struggles

INDIANAPOLIS — This week’s troubled journey to Dallas might just capture the essence of the Liberty’s season.

Early in the season, they struggled with injuries and delays, and this time, weather issues prevented a timely departure.

To make matters worse, mechanical failures left the team stuck in New York, similar to how ongoing injuries to Leonie Fievich and Sato Sabally have impacted their performance.

After switching planes, the Liberty found themselves stranded on the tarmac, unable to get on with their trip.

In a sense, it mirrored how the season has unfolded: expectations high but facing constant setbacks.

Sabrina Ionescu expressed her frustration, saying, “It’s unfortunate, but that’s the reality. I need to push hard before taking a break.”

The pressing question is: can the Liberty gain some traction in their next three games before the All-Star break? Or will their promising potential get sidelined or even derailed?

As a team striving for a championship with a record of 13-11, they have some clear challenges ahead.

Injury Woes

The Liberty believed they had bolstered their roster to handle injuries, yet recent setbacks have tested their depth.

Betoniyah Rainey-Hamilton, who is back this season after a knee injury sidelined her for a year, has had difficulty finding her footing. Additionally, Sato Sabally has recently suffered another concussion, and Leonie Fievich is out with a leg injury.

What was considered a strong position group is now looking quite thin.

The absence of both Sabally and Fievich is noticeably impacting the team.

When Fievich is on the court, the Liberty performs significantly better, boasting a net rating of 7.8, compared to a -1.7 when he’s off. For Sabally, those numbers are 4.9 and 3.6, respectively.

Without them, their defensive flexibility suffers, as shown by a rise in opponents’ three-point shooting percentage to 38.7 percent in the last two weeks—a 6.6 percent increase from the prior 21 games.

Overall Performance Drop

Ionescu stated, “Our offense isn’t the issue,” while Coach Chris DeMarco countered with, “Our defense has been solid, but our offense needs work.”

So which side is it?

The reality likely lies somewhere in between.

Back on June 17, after a successful streak of eight wins, the Liberty ranked well in both offense and defense. However, concerns have grown since then.

In their last nine games, during which they went 2-7, their offensive and defensive ratings have dropped significantly, with a net rating of -2.1.

Injuries have certainly disrupted their team chemistry, but there are key areas like effort and communication that they can control.

DeMarco mentioned, “We know we have to improve. We must find a way to compete for a full 40 minutes.”

Challenges in Clutch Moments

Recently, the Liberty has faced significant hurdles.

In their last five losses, they consistently fell behind by double digits. In competitive finishes against the Minnesota Lynx and Toronto Tempo, they rallied in the fourth quarter, but it ultimately wasn’t enough, leading to losses by narrow margins.

Their net rating in close games has dropped, a first since the superteam era began in 2023.

Interestingly, they’ve maintained a positive point differential in every quarter except the fourth.

With their main veterans now in their fourth season, this is the first year under DeMarco, who leads a fresh coaching staff. Historically, the Liberty has excelled in high-pressure situations, featuring stars like Ionescu, Brianna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones. But this season, that hasn’t been the case.