NY Liberty HC Ignites Sabrina Ionescu & Co.’s Redemption Amid Strong Locker Room Wake-Up Call

The Liberty are built differently this year, and they’re proving it with every game. At 6-0, they stand as one of only two unbeaten teams in the WNBA, alongside the surging Minnesota Lynx. Their flawless start isn’t just about racking up wins; it’s about how they’re doing it. With statement victories over marquee opponents like the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces.

The sting of last year’s Commissioner’s Cup final loss to the Minnesota Lynx still burns in the Liberty’s hearts. That 94-89 defeat, despite Breanna Stewart’s 24 points and Sabrina Ionescu’s strong first half, left a mark. The team has been open about using that loss as fuel, with Ionescu declaring, “We gotta run it back.” That hunger drives their redemption arc, pushing them to seize the 2025 Cup.

Brianna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu have been their marquee scorers, going at 19.0 points and 17.8 points per game, respectively.  Natasha Cloud has been in top form defensively and offensively as she won her first player of the week for her standout performances last week. However, coach Sandy Brondello is urging the team to not slow down, particularly eyeing the Commissioner’s Cup title. 

She said regarding their aspirations in the Commissioners Cup, “We want to definitely go back to the Final again… we just got to get through this game… we have to be ready, can’t have any complacency.”

Brondello on the CC: “We want to definitely go back to the Final again…we just got to get through this game…we have to be ready, can’t have any complacency.” (Feinberg) #WNBA #LightItUpNYL

— Geoff Magliocchetti (@GeoffJMags) June 1, 2025

The Sun have consistently challenged the Liberty, with Alyssa Thomas’s versatile play, including a triple-double in the 2023 playoffs, exposing New York’s vulnerabilities. Reflecting on the rivalry, Natasha Cloud emphasized the importance of matching the Sun’s physicality and intensity. This Commissioner’s Cup game offers the Liberty a chance to set the tone for the season and demonstrate growth from past encounters.

The Commissioner’s Cup loss to the Minnesota Lynx was the only blot in last year’s season for the New York Liberty. In a close game, Breanna Stewart registered a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Sabrina Ionescu tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds. But the clutch genes of Bridget Carleton turned out to be the X-factor for the Lynx as she put up a 23-point performance that included six 3-pointers. 

The 6-foot-1 forward did a little bit of everything and was among the Lynx’s five double-digit scorers. Their comprehensive effort proved to be too much for the Liberty squad and they are back in this tournament, prepared to go all the way this time. Their first task will be the Connecticut Sun, who have gotten their first win of the season against the Indiana Fever with Marina Mabrey starring for them.coach Brondello is confident in stopping her.

Oct 10, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Brondello said, “She can put up a lot of points if you give her the freedom, especially if she’s into the game early. We’ve got to make it hard for her… but I think we have great matchups in Leo, Tash, and KB.”

Mabrey went off against the Indiana Fever to get their first win, scoring 26 points while providing 5 assists and 5 rebounds along with two steals. She was a menace for the Fever defense as she danced past the likes of Sophie Cunningham while also making logo threes from beyond the arc. And she made every move look easy. But defensively, Brondello knows they are a whole different beast as compared to the Fever.

The Liberty currently boasts the best defensive rating in the league, holding opponents to just 91 points per 100 possessions. Anchoring this effort are Natasha Cloud, Kennedy Burke, and Leonie Fiebich, a trio that has consistently shut down elite scorers across the board. Cloud, in particular, is in peak form. Her clutch, last-second steal on Caitlin Clark sealed a dramatic win and underscored her reputation as one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders.

Burke and Fiebich have been quietly effective all season, bringing size, switchability, and focus. Those qualities will be critical in containing Marina Mabrey, especially after her recent offensive explosion. With this defensive core locked in along with that hunger to take home the title after the debacle last year, Liberty are looking poised for another final run in the 2025 Commissioners Cup. 

The player to watch out for the Connecticut Sun

The New York Liberty missed Jonquel Jones in their last matchup against the Golden State Valkyries for just her second regular-season game since 2023 after soreness in her right hamstring flared up. Jones is probably the best center in the league, barring A’ja Wilson and she has been key for the Liberty this season with defining performances against the Fever and the Las Vegas Aces. She was back up and running against the Mystics and you immediately noticed the difference in getting rebounds off the glass for the Liberty.

“It’s a point of emphasis for me right now,” Jones said. “Our team right now, we’re kind of losing a rebounding war, and so it’s just something that I can bring every night — whether my shots have fallen or not. It’s something that I can use to kind of affect the game and kind of get me going. And I think that’s what happened tonight.”

Jones continues to be the anchor of the Liberty’s interior presence. She pulled down 18 rebounds, her highest total in a regular-season game since 2019, and added 14 points in the win against the Mystics. Jones is averaging 11.4 rebounds per game this season, far ahead of any teammate, with no other Liberty player grabbing more than 5 per contest. Her dominance on the glass has been crucial, especially in generating second-chance opportunities that fuel New York’s offense.

Overall, the Liberty have been a solid rebounding team, averaging 37.3 boards per game. That ranks as the third-best mark in the league. However, they have struggled in one key area: limiting opponents’ second-chance points. New York is giving up a league-high 11.5 offensive rebounds per game, a vulnerability that has shown up repeatedly. They have allowed 15 offensive boards twice this season, including in Thursday’s win over the Valkyries.

Jones’s presence makes a noticeable difference. In her return to the lineup against the Mystics, the Liberty gave up just 9 offensive rebounds. That drop reflects the impact she has in controlling the paint. She will be the player Sun will look out for in their game against them. If they can keep her quiet, they can regularly clean the glass against Liberty, giving them a chance of exploiting the one weakness the defending champions have.

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