Liberty ‘punch first’ with 31-point rout over Sun
NEW YORK — The New York Liberty opened their 2026 marketing campaign with a celebration of their thirtieth season, filling Barclays Center with ’90s-esque tributes harkening again to the franchise’s inaugural 12 months in 1997.
But Friday’s recreation was additionally in regards to the starting of one thing new underneath first-year head coach Chris DeMarcoand that new period began about simply in addition to he may have hoped: New York steamrolled a rebuilding Connecticut Sun 106-75good for the franchise’s largest margin of victory in a season opener.
DeMarco, who involves Brooklyn after spending over a decade as an assistant with the Golden State Warriorsgrew to become the second head coach in WNBA historical past to win by 30 or extra factors in his head teaching debut.
“We wanted to punch first,” mentioned two-time MVP Breanna Stewartwho completed with 31 factors, 10 rebounds and three blocks. “Knowing that this is a season opener, home opener, lot of different things, lot of different people here, some familiar people here, but this is us turning the page and turning the chapter a little bit, and focusing on what we have now and making sure that we start strong this season.”
The Liberty, who started the season favored by DraftKings to win the WNBA title at +220 odds, had been with out all-WNBA guard Sabrina Ionescu (left foot) and new free agent acquisition Satou Sabally (cyst). Ionescu will miss at the least the primary 4 video games and Sabally is taken into account day-to-day. Left with solely seven gamers obtainable, the workforce signed two newcomers on hardship contracts Thursday night time.
But even with a lot roster flux, DeMarco’s new offensive system hummed, as his group registered the highest-scoring season opener in franchise historical past and tied for the sixth-most factors scored in any recreation in Liberty historical past.
It was solely Game 1 — towards a Connecticut workforce not anticipated to make the playoffs — nevertheless it was a promising signal for a workforce that at instances struggled to provide on the offensive finish final 12 months. New York dealt with a rash of accidents earlier than ending 27-17 and falling within the first spherical of the playoffs.
“We just wanted to be connected. We wanted to have fun,” mentioned middle Jonquel Joneswho had 10 factors and 5 rebounds. “We want to come out there against any team and just have that mindset that nobody can play with us when we’re playing the way that we’re playing and playing at a high level.”
New York arguably even left factors on the board: DeMarco wished among the Liberty’s 18 turnovers again, and so they made solely 10 of 31 3-pointers. But the short-handed group nonetheless shot 52% from the ground and assisted on 26 of 35 baskets.
“We wanted depth and if this [stretch with injuries] happened, we wanted to be prepared offensively and defensively, just keep the music playing, offensively keep the ball moving,” DeMarco mentioned. “Really happy across the board.”
Players have described DeMarco’s system as free-flowing and predicated on spacing, readability and ease. And it regarded that manner, particularly within the first half, with the Liberty leaping out to a 36-13 lead on the finish of the primary quarter earlier than going into the locker room up 66-37.
Jones mentioned she thinks the workforce has discovered the brand new system shortly and was at about 80% in executing it persistently Friday night time.
“It just feels really good. It looks exactly the way it feels, which is nice,” she mentioned. “So you just get more comfortable. We have new people coming in, and it’s a lot of learning curves for them and stuff, but I think we’re doing a really good job of simplifying things and allowing them to be able to just kind of plug in and play.”
Aside from Stewart and Jones, three different gamers completed in double figures for New York, together with Marine Johannes (17 factors together with 5 3-pointers) and hardship participant Julie Vanloo. The latter was waived by the Los Angeles Sparks earlier this week however almost completed with a triple-double (12 factors, 11 assists, seven rebounds) regardless of Friday being her first day with New York.
The Sun had been led by 16 factors from new acquisition Diamond Millerin addition to 15 from second-year participant Aneesah Morrow.
