You never want to start slow. When you don’t get off to a good start, you spend the rest of your time scrambling and trying to make up for early mistakes. Sometimes, you’re able to make it all the way back. However, even if you do catch up, you have to hit another gear if you want to escape with a win. And if you can’t find that gear late, you’re in a tough spot.

Coming into Saturday’s game, the New York Liberty were looking to bounce back following their first loss of the season against the Chicago Sky. The team was back in action on national TV against a team in the Minnesota Lynx that has gotten better over time and have been a pleasant surprise thus far. As the first game of a jam packed holiday schedule, there was a lot of excitement. Unfortunately for Liberty fans, they didn’t have much to cheer for.

Final score: Lynx 84, Liberty 67.

The big number of the day was 18. That was how many turnovers the seafoam had on the afternoon. A lot of them came from miscommunication and mistakes that they simple should never make

“Some of the turnovers, I wasn’t quite sure why we were trying to pass the ball in there,” Sandy Brondello said in postgame. “We just to have a little more discipline. Something doesn’t work, we have to know what the next action is and be better at that.”

Something to keep an eye on for the Liberty is their turnover rate. Granted it’s still early, but they’ve turned the ball on 20.7% of their possessions, fourth highest mark in the WNBA so far. That combined with their poor 3-point shooting (ninth in the 12-team W) has made things a lot harder for them on offense so far.

Despite their struggles, you could see the vision when things are going well

Brondello has talked about paint to great, and it’s something the team needs to get better at. Of Breanna Stewart’s eight field goals (game high 20 points), four of them were within seven feet. Finding those easier shots and making the most out of every possession will help them get back on track.

A bright spot

The bench unit is still a work in progress, but we got to see one of the reserves make a name for themselves today. Liberty rookie Leonie Fiebich played a season high 19 minutes and rewarded Brondello’s faith in her with a career high 11 points and three three pointers. Leo was instrumental in the Liberty’s second quarter barrage that made the game close at halftime:

“For me, it’s always fun to be on the floor, to be around my teammates,” Fiebich said after the game. “I love to cut, I love to shoot the ball, and they put me in a good spot today and it certainly helped that the shots go in. And I will just continue to fill gaps, whatever the team needs and be tough on defense.”

Brondello added: “It was great to see Leo come out and be aggressive, make some shots. She’s versatile. We think she’s gonna keep getting better and better and have a great WNBA career. She’s a great shooter. She’s a great defender. She moves well. She does all the little things well. It was nice for her to see the ball go in and we just want her to be who she is and be confident in what she does well, and she showed that tonight.”

The Liberty bench has a lot of good players on it. As the season progresses and set rotations are developed, Fiebich’s versatility will help her stand out and give the team a new dimension to work with.

Milestone Watch

• With her rebound at 2:58 of the third quarter, Breanna Stewart became the fifth-fastest player in WNBA history to reach 2000 rebounds (229 games). Stewart finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds for her league-high fourth double-double of the 2024 season.
• Leonie Fiebich set a new career high for points with two three-pointers in the second quarter of today’s game. Fiebich finished with 11 points on 60% (3-of-5) shooting from beyond the arc.
• Sabrina Ionescu posted 13 points and added two three-pointers to extend her streak of regular season games with at least one made 3-pointer to 31, which is the longest active streak in the WNBA.

Looking back, looking forward

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis by police officer Derek Chauvin. Floyd’s murder led to protests in Minnesota, New York, and around the world. The killing led to increased conversations about police conduct, safety for communities, etc. at home and abroad. In 2020, the WNBA were in the wubble and dedicated that season to social justice. Sandy Brondello was in the wubble in 2020, and in pregame was asked by Jackie Powell of The Next to reflect on this moment in history and how it impacted the WNBA that we know today in 2024:

“I’d say massively. I was in the bubble and the stance that the players took, the social platforms that they have, were so strong. It shows that the players are more than just basketball players. They can force [society] to make changes. I know Minnesota has done that in the past with some of the initiatives there. [The players] were standing up for what they believe in. [Floyd’s murder] was a sad day, it was a sad for everyone.

The WNBA players now are making a stand [addressing] social injustices around the world, they’re standing up for that and using their voices.”

In the arena, the Lynx held a moment of silence before the game and had a special message

As we continue to push for more accountability, transparency, and better treatment from law enforcement, it helps that athletes are using their platforms to call for change.

Next up

The Libs get some much needed days off and will be back to work on May 29 vs. the new look Phoenix Mercury. Tip off at the ‘clays will be at 7:00 p.m. ET.