Leonie Fiebich's Stellar Shooting Fuels Liberty's Upset of Top-Seeded Lynx

Leonie Fiebich's contributions may not always be the most visible, but her impact was undeniable on Sunday as the No. 8 seed New York Liberty secured a commanding 91-75 victory over the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx in Game 1 of their playoff series. Fiebich shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, including an flawless 4-for-4 from three-point range in the second half, to finish with 16 points.

Fiebich's timely three-pointers in the third quarter were instrumental in the Liberty building a decisive lead. She credited the open looks to improved offensive execution, stating, "When we decide we want to pass the ball, we usually get really open looks from side to side and not just play one action and then force a shot." She added, "So I feel like when I get good shots, it’s always a good sign if we move the ball well enough."

Beyond her scoring, Fiebich demonstrated her all-around value with eight rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a blocked shot. She posted a plus-21 rating when on the court, significantly outperforming the Lynx, and was part of the defensive effort that pressured Lynx rookie Olivia Miles.

Liberty coach Chris DeMarco praised Fiebich's tenacity, calling her "a dog" and "incredible." He highlighted her recent high-level play for Germany at the World Cup and her willingness to do "whatever it takes to win." DeMarco noted that the ball found her in crucial moments during the second half, and her made three-pointers were vital to the team's success.

Teammate Jonquel Jones emphasized Fiebich's significance in the series, on both offense and defense. "The open shots help a lot but also her aggressiveness going downhill, getting easy layups, or just really finishing through contact and just having the scorer’s mentality," Jones said. "When she does have the ball, [it] is very advantageous to us as a team. So we need her. She knows how much she means to us and just to continue to pour into her."

Jones also played a key role, appearing in the game despite a recent left ankle sprain sustained in the Liberty's regular-season finale. She played nearly 26 minutes in a physical contest and finished with eight points, five rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a blocked shot. Jones was able to rest for the entirety of the fourth quarter as the Liberty maintained a comfortable lead.