The Local W

NYC women's sports. Tactical breakdowns & on-the-ground reporting — NWSL, WNBA, PWHL, USWNT. Go beyond the box score. #NWSL #WNBA #PWHL #USWNT #GothamFC

📍 NYC

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

Han Xu (韩旭) is back in seafoam! 🗽

Today's video from NY Liberty Practice.

https://t.co/xAAyRblP5X

[New York Liberty @nyliberty]

1st Commissioner’s Cup W secured 💪🏆

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

Final Score: Liberty defeat Tempo, 97 - 82.

NYL: All five starters in double figures scoring, coupled with Sabally's 16 off the bench. Jones leads the way 22/17 as New York picks apart Tempo defense for a 15 - 2 run in the second. Liberty stifle Toronto's surging offense to only 82 points.

TT: Sykes and Mabrey combine for 34. Offense generated good looks, but whiffed on various shots. Led early in second, but defensive breakdown(s) persisted throughout.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

With her rim-finish assisted by the Leonie Fiebich, Astier becomes the fifth and final starter tonight to enter double digit scoring.

With the starters' total, the average output of each player rounds out to just under 15.5 for the game.

Strength in NUMBERS.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

New York Liberty Scoring, Tonight:

Jones - 22
Stewart - 16
Johannes - 15
Fiebich - 12
Sabally - 12

Pauline Astier looks to join the group with eight points following the AND-1 score in transition.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco wisely goes double-big with Jones and Han Xu to open the fourth quarter as Liberty look to push Toronto's attack to the outside, where they've shot an abysmal 26.7% (4-15 3P) from beyond the arc.

New York plays off the poor shooters of the Tempo to easily clean the glass and guarantee finished defensive possessions.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

New York continue to make tonight impossible for the Tempo, as the Liberty have put 12 total fouls on Toronto to pick up easy points with an already sizable lead.

Sabally converts on two charity stripe shots to extend the lead to fourteen, 70 - 56.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

7:41 in the third, Liberty lead 49 - 39.

Both teams have a lot to like in terms of game flow and shot selection. New York's six point lead balloons to double digits behind a Johannes blow-by and a Stewart layup. The liberty continues to poke holes in the Tempo defense and get to their spots.

Toronto, just as they have done throughout, has whiffed on another wide open three pointer, but the offense has been able to generate VERY good looks which, sooner or later, should drop.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

Halftime Score: Liberty lead Tempo, 40 - 34,

NYL: Jones dominates in strongest first-half of season (17/12). Stacked possessions, strong three point shooting (42.9%), and steady inside presence has kept Libs in front.

TT: 18 paint points, 5 steals and higher level of ball security (4 TOs) keep them closer than ever. Three-man tandem of Sabally, Sykes, and Conde combine for 22 of all 34 points.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

The Liberty have made play-after-play on the boards as they hold a +7 differential in the category; Jones records a double-double in the first half (17/12) to give New York a huge advantage in both play-finishing and second chance opportunities.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

Liberty now come out of the timeout after looking lackadaisical prior with a Satou Sabally three pointer, her second of the game.

Sabally's movement patterns seem to be moving along nicely with the one-motion shot and strong contests to force the stop on the other end.

New York, slowly but surely, getting back to full health.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

Chris DeMarco has opened up the second quarter with his death (defensive) lineup of Astier, Gardner, Fiebich, Laney-Hamilton, and Jones and it has practically halted the Tempo attack.

Toronto has scored a measly two points in the near four minutes of action with this lineup on the floor.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

All-Time Liberty Coaching Wins:

Sandy Brondello (107)
Richie Adubato (100)
Bill Laimbeer (92)

Welcome Home Sandy 💚

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

In a very stiff rookie class that has shined and already exceeded the lofty expectations of elite play, Kiki Rice has been at the forefront of the buzz.

13/5/3 with ELITE efficiency (57.7 FG, 66.3% EFG), exceptional floor general-ship, and strong rebounding which provides versatility with various lineups.

Toronto may have just found their franchise cornerstone.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

Over the @TempoBasketball's last five games, they have ranked amongst the HOTTEST offensive teams in the league, as they have been averaging 94 points per game dating back to their May 21 loss against the Lynx.

The offensed was JUICED in their, in their win against the Sky, scoring 111 in one of THE scoring performances of the entire season.

Worlds collide as DeMarco's iteration of the Libs take on the old guard, one that now has the team HUMMING in Toronto.

[Gotham FC @GothamFC]

A little moment for the details

@JaedynShaw11 ⭐️⭐️

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

Final Score: Liberty def. Mercury, 75 - 68.

@nyliberty: Domination of the boards; +17 rebounding differential (40 - 23). New York got stops in the half-court and finished them by not allowing any second chance opportunities. CLEAN offensive execution, as initial, secondary, and tertiary progressions have made the attack BALANCED. BLH leads the way with nine points at halftime as she continues to get her legs back under her (POA, movement). Finished with 13.

@PhoenixMercury: Formidable inside presence; Three starters in double figures with two (Thomas, Copper) doing most of their damage from the restricted area and the charity stripe (16 and 13, respectively). Akoa Makani hit big shot after big shot (13 points, 75% 3P%) including one late to give New York a scare. Stacked defensive possessions in spurts.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

Absolute BAILOUT foul by the Phoenix Mercury; Liberty had no plan on what to go to offensively, and with 0.8 left to shoot, Monique Akoa Makani fouls Pauline Astier to allow Liberty to reset.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

It would be imperative for Rebekah Gardner and Han Xu to close out this game for the Liberty.

The five man lineup of Gardner, Xu, Fiebich, Jones, and Astier has Barclays Center ROCKING, as Jones get a block on the Mercury paint touch, followed by the breakaway layup by Gardner in the backcourt.

Liberty leading, 67 - 57.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

Marine Johannes picks up her fourth foul trying to prevent low post positioning on Bonner on the far side corner.

Mercury convert on both to cut the lead to a single basket, 54 - 52.

[The Local W @TheLocalW]

The Liberty's challenge on the Astier foul call was ruled SUCCESSFUL, giving New York the ball back.

Thomas' foul sends BLH to the free throw line to extend on both their lead and her stellar night (11).