The New York Liberty have brushed off three consecutive losses by securing their first three-game winning streak under new head coach Chris DeMarco.
To wrap up a season-long seven-game homestand, New York will welcome Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Saturday night.
The Liberty (6-4) returned from a quasi-bye week Wednesday and earned a 97-82 win over the Toronto Tempo — the expansion squad led by their former coach Sandy Brondello, who was dismissed after last year’s early playoff exit.
Breanna Stewart (19 points, nine rebounds vs. Toronto) was asked if it’s a sign that the Liberty are coming together under DeMarco’s direction.
“I think that we’re definitely getting a good flow and chemistry,” Stewart said, “especially with the starting group, making sure that we come out and are aggressive offensively and defensively.”
Jonquel Jones posted season highs of 22 points and 17 rebounds and led six Liberty players to score in double figures vs. Toronto. They finished with more than twice as many assists (24) as turnovers (10) and DeMarco was pleased with the half-court motion offense.
“Like (Jones) said, we’ve been working on really getting good at a few things, more recently just being really intentional with what we’re trying to accomplish and getting everyone comfortable playing with each other,” DeMarco said. “One thing I love about this team in general is that we don’t play a lot of hero ball.”
Saturday marks the first meeting of the year between New York and Indiana (5-4), which also spread the ball around in its last outing.
Kelsey Mitchell had all 25 of her points by the third quarter, Aliyah Boston went for 19 points and seven rebounds and Caitlin Clark tallied 17 points, seven boards and eight assists Thursday in the Fever’s 83-71 home win over the Atlanta Dream.
Clark revealed post-game that she had been feeling ill; she vomited at halftime and was losing her voice. Her status for Saturday’s game was undetermined.
Indiana snapped a modest two-game slide, right after Clark and head coach Stephanie White were seen having an apparent argument on the sideline in their previous game.
“I’m gonna say this in the nicest way possible, but hopefully it makes a lot of people just be quiet,” Clark said, per the Indianapolis Star. “And I know there’s always gonna be conversation, and I totally respect that, and I always understand that. But the sky’s not falling.”
Two-time MVP Stewart leads New York at 18.8 points per game. Mitchell has put up 21.1 points on 48.6% shooting, while Clark averages 19.8 points and 8.1 assists.
New York’s Sabrina Ionescu, who has played just one game this season, is listed as questionable with back soreness.
–Field Level Media
