The New York Liberty believes its defense has shown significant improvement, even in games where opponents have scored over 100 points. Following a 109-102 victory against the Indiana Fever, the team reviewed game film and maintained a positive outlook on their defensive performance.

Guard Breanna Stewart noted that the team's communication and ability to finish possessions have been key factors in the perceived strides. "We were able to kind of finish possession. Yeah, they scored 100 still, but I don’t know, I felt good that for the most part we limited them to one shot and were able to get in transition," Stewart said.

Teammates Jonquel Jones and Marine Fauthoux echoed Stewart's sentiment, attributing defensive improvements to increased team chemistry and a better understanding of defensive schemes and player tendencies. "The chemistry between us is better on the court. It’s more we act together now, and everybody is on the same page," Fauthoux stated.

The return of Leonie Fiebich, considered the team's top perimeter defender, after a 16-game absence due to a left foot injury, has also bolstered the team's defensive capabilities.

Despite these positive developments, the Liberty acknowledge there is still room for improvement. Jones pointed to the recent game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Minnesota Lynx, a matchup characterized by strong defense and low scoring, as an example of a defensive masterclass. "The way that they rotate, it’s just — and I’ve said this before — you can see everything is just on a string," Jones commented on the Valkyries and Lynx. "One person goes out to help, the next person steps in. Person on the weak side falls, it’s just — it’s systemic, it’s consistent and that’s why they are two of the better defensive teams in the league."

Jones believes the next step for the Liberty is to make opponents feel more uncomfortable. "I think we still can make teams feel a little bit more uncomfortable out there. And I feel like we’re understanding our schemes right now in terms of what we want to do and being on the same page, but I think our next step is making people feel uncomfortable when we play against them," she said.

The Liberty are preparing to face the Golden State Valkyries in Brooklyn on Thursday.