The New York Liberty will face the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night, aiming to avenge a significant loss from July and continue their recent surge. The Liberty enter the matchup with a four-game winning streak, having won eight of their last nine games. Their latest victory was a dominant performance against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday.
Earlier this season, on July 18, the Liberty suffered a 108-88 defeat against the Fever, a loss that reportedly spurred a change within the team. Following that game, New York has shown improved form. This turnaround includes an 83-75 win against the Fever earlier in the season, where the Liberty led by as many as 13 points before Indiana made a third-quarter comeback.
Key to the Liberty's strategy will be containing the Fever's potent backcourt, particularly Kelsey Mitchell, who ranks second in the WNBA in scoring with an average of 24.2 points per game. Mitchell has set a WNBA single-season record with 16 consecutive games scoring at least 20 points. Caitlin Clark is also a significant offensive threat for Indiana, averaging 21.6 points and 8.6 assists.
The Fever have won six of their last eight games, but recent losses to the Lynx and Aces have exposed vulnerabilities against strong competition. Oddsmakers have installed the Fever as 2.5-point favorites, a line that has narrowed from an opening of 4.5, suggesting a shift in betting sentiment towards the Liberty.
To succeed, New York will aim to control the game's tempo and establish a half-court offense. The frontcourt duo of Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones has been instrumental, as demonstrated in their earlier win against the Fever where they combined for 20 rebounds. Stewart also converted 18 of 21 free throws in that contest. With Sabrina Ionescu having played limited minutes in the Liberty's recent blowout victory, she is expected to be well-rested and contribute significantly, especially in road games where she has averaged 22.5 points and 5.8 assists in the last four away contests.
The Liberty's recent performances, including a Commissioner's Cup triumph in June, indicate a team in strong form. The betting public appears to favor a Liberty upset, with the moneyline currently set at +112 on FanDuel.