The New York Liberty are preparing for a second encounter with the Dallas Wings on Tuesday, a team that exposed significant weaknesses in their transition defense during a previous matchup on May 24. In that earlier game, Wings guard Azzi Fudd scored 24 points, with six of her nine three-pointers coming in the second half, exploiting the Liberty's vulnerability on the break. Paige Bueckers also presented challenges for the Liberty.
The May 24 loss served as a turning point for the Liberty. Following that defeat, they lost to the Portland Fire before embarking on an eight-game winning streak. This streak included road victories against the Atlanta Dream and the Las Vegas Aces. The Liberty also secured the Commissioner's Cup by defeating the Aces and most recently won against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx on Friday.
"I feel like we’re a completely different team from who we were when we first saw them," said Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu. "We’ve continued to get better every game, and I feel like we’re at a different pace now than we were then. So for us, it’s just controlling what we can, continuing to get better as a team collectively on both sides of the ball."
The Liberty have undergone significant changes since training camp, with a new coaching staff and several new players. Coach Chris DeMarco has emphasized the team's focus on postseason preparation. However, injuries have impacted their consistency, leading to nine different starting lineups in 21 games this season.
Since Ionescu's return in mid-June, the Liberty have shown increased momentum. They are currently ranked among the top four teams in both offense and defense and hold the second-best net rating in the league, trailing only the Lynx. DeMarco noted that the next step for the team is to achieve consistent 40-minute performances.
Ahead of Tuesday's game, the Liberty are managing injuries. Forward Leonie Fiebich is considered day-to-day with foot soreness that resurfaced after Friday's game, making her questionable for the upcoming contest. Forward Satou Sabally has been sidelined for two weeks due to a concussion sustained during a play for a rebound. While Sabally is reportedly feeling better, she has not yet been cleared to return. This marks her second concussion in eight months.