Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the WNBA daily as we try to heal from this pandemic.
The New York Liberty are now 5-1.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
You know, I must have really underestimated the ladies from New York. They are now 5-1 after vanquishing the Dallas Wings on Monday.
Their acquisitions in the offseason have paid off. Natasha Howard has joined them and has paid immediate dividends in the two games she has played with them. Remember that she has three rings, a Most Improved Player award in 2018, and a Defensive Player of the Year award the following season.
The Most Improved Player from last year, Betnijah Laney, also joined the Liberty and she has been a scoring machine. She’s fourth amongst scorers in the league at 22.7 points per game and she scored 20 or more points in each of the 6 games she’s played. Laney has been great as a #1 option.
Sami Whitcomb is a two-time champ from the Seattle Storm and she has provided some outside scoring and defensive chops. She’s shooting .417 from three and she has helped provide that perimeter threat as the Liberty are the #1 three-point shooting team in the league.
Rookie Michaela Onyenwere has been a boon for them. She has started all 6 games so far and has done some supplemental scoring and shooting for the team. She’s averaging 9.3 points for the Liberty.
And of course, Liberty didn’t have Sabrina Ionescu for all but three games. A lot had been expected out of her and she already has a triple-double to her name. She has averages of 18-7-8 and even has a game-winner this season.
All of this has led to a 5-1 record. They were able to take care of business against the Wings and withstand 45 points from Arike Ogunbowale and Marina Mabrey. The Liberty controlled most of the second half and weren’t in danger of losing the game by then.
A near-flawless season so far by New York (that inexplicable loss against the Mystics being the only blemish). It’s a long season, though, so I’ll hold off on those title aspirations for the Liberty just yet.
WNBA Scoreboard
May 24, 2021
Watch This Play
Sabrina Ionescu to Natasha Howard once again!
WHAT A FEED by @sabrina_i20
💻 #WNBATwitter pic.twitter.com/Tsm5bJu3Vf
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 24, 2021
Love that pick-and-roll between the two stars.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the WNBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.