The 2024 New York Liberty’s success can be attributed to their impressive depth. The team, already boasting a strong starting lineup in 2023, recognized the need for a robust bench to support their starters. This necessity was a focal point for head coach Sandy Brondello and general manager Jonathan Kolb during the offseason, as well as for Liberty fans who eagerly anticipated the team’s development. Brondello emphasized the importance of building a versatile and resilient bench during training camp, stressing the need for players who could step up when necessary:
“Now, how do we build the bench into complementary pieces to what we have? And I think we do, I think we have good versatility. We have good toughness. We have some good draft picks, and then we just have to see how it all evolves and what we need to make sure that anytime, if someone goes down, we can cover for it.”
On a Saturday afternoon game against the Chicago Sky, the Liberty’s depth was indeed tested. With Betnijah Laney-Hamilton sidelined for several games and Breanna Stewart also out due to a tight right hamstring, the team faced a challenging opponent on national television. The game presented an opportunity for the entire roster to demonstrate their capabilities.
The game dynamics shifted dramatically in the second quarter. The Liberty had a sluggish start, struggling with the Sky’s aggressive play and offensive rebounds in the first quarter, which limited them to a 28.6 percent shooting rate from the field. Despite this, they managed to stay within reach. The second quarter, however, saw the Liberty seize control and maintain their lead for the remainder of the game.
Ivana Dojkic, who hadn’t seen much playing time since June 23 against the Atlanta Dream, made the most of her opportunity. Teammate Leonie Fiebich praised her postgame performance:
“It’s not easy to not play a couple of games and then just come in and get these minutes. She did great. She was hitting almost every shot on offense. She was giving us some pressure on the point guard on defense, which is always annoying for the other team. It’s just huge what she does for us, and I’m happy to be on the court with her.”
With Stewart and Laney-Hamilton out, other players were expected to step up. Fiebich continued her impressive rookie campaign with a solid performance, contributing 13 points, six rebounds, and two assists in 30 minutes. Kayla Thornton’s defensive energy, despite not scoring, was infectious, while Nyara Sabally, in her second game back from injury, added six points and two rebounds in 13 minutes. Kennedy Burke, filling in for Stewart, delivered a well-rounded performance with seven points, three rebounds, two assists, three steals, and one block in 30 minutes.
Jonquel Jones, one of the Liberty’s stars, had a slow start, going 1-7 from the field in the first quarter and facing tough defense from Kamilla Cardoso. However, Jones showcased her all-around skills and made significant contributions despite her shooting struggles. Coach Brondello emphasized Jones’s importance to the team’s success:
“We’ve spoken to JJ a fair bit about how important she is to the success of our team. She missed some early, but I wasn’t worried because I know she’s in a really good place. She knows what we expect of her every game in being aggressive. She’s a facilitator. She had seven assists, that’s pretty impressive. But her rebounding, her defense. But I think the biggest growth for us… We know she’s a great basketball player, it’s the leadership that she has with this team… She pours confidence into all these players and it’s been great. It doesn’t matter how old you are. You’re going to continue to evolve, aren’t you?”
Sabrina Ionescu, another key player, led all scorers with 28 points, with 19 of those coming after halftime. She hit a crucial three-pointer over Cardoso to extend the Liberty’s lead to 11 points, solidifying their dominance.
The Liberty have excelled in various aspects this season and demonstrated their ability to compete and win even without two of their best players. Their cohesion and depth were on full display.
Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, who had been on a record-breaking streak of 15 consecutive double-doubles, faced tough defense from the Liberty. Reese was limited to 3-12 shooting as the Liberty’s defenders, including Burke, made things difficult for her. Coach Brondello praised Burke’s performance:
“KB keeps getting better and better in our practices and the games we’ve had. She’s been staying ready, and I thought she gave us really good minutes. It was great to get her extended minutes and hopefully we continue to build on it.”
With one game remaining before a well-deserved month off, the Liberty aim to build on this strong performance and maintain their position at the top of the standings.