NY Liberty vs. Atlanta Dream Preview: Liberty looks to make it three in a row

Put on a show for the people at home. It was very hot in New York this weekend, and the New York Liberty really heated up the Barclays Center. They faced the Los Angeles Sparks in the back half of a two-game miniseries and blew out Brooklyn. The Libs used a crushing third quarter to put on a dazzling display to give fans plenty of memories as they cruised to another victory. The Liberty are now 14-3 on the WNBA season.

Tonight’s opponent had a tough time. The Atlanta Dream had their sights set on being a top four team in the WNBA this season. However, this did not go as planned. They hosted the Indiana Fever Friday night at a sold-out State Farm Arena. They outscored the Fever 35-11 from the free throw line. However, it wasn’t enough as the ATL lost 91-79.

Where to follow the game

MY9 on TV. OUI app, Liberty Live, League Pass and Fox Local streaming. Brunch and basketball to get the party started after 3:00 p.m. ET.

Injuries

No, Nyara Sabally. Courtney Vandersloot and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton were questionable yesterday, but didn’t match up. We’ll see if they play today.

Rhyne Howard left Wednesday night’s game against the Minnesota Lynx with a left ankle injury. On Friday, the team announced she would be out indefinitely. Jordin Canada missed the entire season with a hand injury. She is back and will make her season and Atlanta Dream debut today.

The game

The Liberty won the first meeting.

With the Cup final at UBS Arena on Long Island on Tuesday night, the Liberty are offering bus transportation for fans to get to the game. Buses leave for UBS at 4 p.m. and interested fans can register here.

Always lose pressure. When the losses pile up and the playstyle leaves something to be desired, everyone finds themselves stuck trying to figure out how to get things back on track. During this process, you search for answers and hope to find the right potion to reverse your ailments. That’s where Dream coach Tanisha Wright is as she tries to figure out what’s wrong with her ball club. After Friday’s loss, she was asked about the team’s prospects and said:

“I promise you, if I had any answers, I would tell you. I don’t have the answers. I know it’s my job to figure out how to get this team to play together.

Pressure can define you. Now that the Dreams are under pressure, we will see how they react.

The central match should be fun. We got to see more of Jonquel Jones’ versatile talents this season, and this stat from Her Hoop Stats piqued my interest.

When your center can stretch the floor, lock down the paint on both ends and create open looks for shooters all over the court, you have something special brewing. TIna Charles will be tasked with fighting Jones. Charles only played 19 minutes in the first game while Wright felt like his big benches provided more energy and effort. Even at this point in her career, Charles still attracts so much attention when she’s on the court. For the Liberty, they will see if they can get him away from the edge and have him defended in space.

Without Howard, Allisha Gray’s shoulders have been heavier. It’s been a tough sled so far for the former All Star. Over the last two games, Gray shot just 5 of 33 from the field in the last two games as she struggled to find her shot. Gray leads the scouting report, and she will have her hands full against the Liberty’s long perimeter defenders. Kayla Thornton thinks she has the first chance against her, and KT is coming off one of the best matches of her career. Thornton made 6 of 7 from 3-point range, and what really stood out was the confidence she had in every shot. There is no hesitation, and as soon as she sees an opening, she immediately attacks. That’s something the coaching staff sees in her and encourages her to be as aggressive as she needs to be. When you have incredible players in the starting five, having a player like Thornton can amplify everyone’s strengths.

Player to watch: Jordan Canada

Coming back from an injury is difficult. Coming back from injury and debuting with a new team is more difficult. Coming back from injury, debuting with a new team AND coming back when the team is in freefall is the toughest challenge imaginable. This is where Canada finds himself as he suits up for the Dream for the first time. We don’t know what his workload will be. HAS The followingHunter Cruse wrote about what Canada brings to the team and the potential pitfalls that lie ahead:

“Canada, who Atlanta acquired from Los Angeles in a sign-and-trade deal in February, will make an immediate impact. The 5’6 guard is one of the fastest players in the WNBA and was the league’s highest PnR operator (14 possessions per game) in 2023.”

Will Atlanta use more ball screens when Canada returns? This should be a priority. Beyond that, Atlanta’s two big lineups could pose challenges for Canada as a finisher if it constantly tries to score at the edge of the crowd.

For Atlanta, they need to get things back on track now. The return of Canada is a first step in this direction.

Sabrina Ionescu will look to put in another All Star performance. Sab had his usual great game yesterday as his 24/6/9 got things going in the backcourt. The nice thing about Sabrina’s acting is that she is very in control and doesn’t feel rushed. She is able to handle traps, is a wonderful decision maker, and is a downhill powerhouse. The Dream allows teams to shoot 24 3-pointers per game this season, the third most in the league. This is a problem for them and a big green light for Ionescu when she is open from deep.

From the safe

On Wednesday, Kendrick Lamar held a forum at Great Western Kia Forum and put on a show for the ages. Jay Rock took the stage with him and ran through some of their all-time bangers. We’re going to follow up a track that they didn’t do, but which still remains a radiator

More reading: Peachtree Hoops, ATEEJL Dream, Swish Call, The Strickland, The room W, New York Daily News, New York Post, Athleticism. Fanside, Just women’s sport, IF All Knicks, Winsidr, His hoop stats, CBS SportsAnd The following