The WNBA preseason has ended, and some players stood out more than others.
The New York Liberty has the typical stars coming back hotter than ever, but some new and upcoming faces will make an impact this season as well.
Getting Burned By the Connecticut Sun
The Liberty fell in their first preseason game to Connecticut, but the good news is that every player who checked into the game scored a bucket. The starters posted just 38 of the team’s 86 points.
The player that stood out the most off the bench was guard Jaylyn Sherrod, who had 11 points, three steals, and four assists. This will be Sherrod’s second season in the WNBA and she is already starting to look better than last year. Her rookie season high came in last season’s final regular season contest, where she scored eight points.
On the downside, newcomer for the Liberty, Natasha Cloud, didn’t rise to the occasion as much as anticipated.
In her 14 minutes on the court, Cloud had two points and four turnovers. Connecticut scored 29 points from Liberty turnovers. Last season, Cloud averaged 11.5 points and 6.9 assists for the Phoenix Mercury. On social media, it appears that Cloud has formed a bond with her new teammates, so it might just take a few games for her to transfer that energy onto the court.
The Road to Victory
The Liberty snatched their first preseason win against the Toyota Antelopes. It’s no surprise that guard Sabrina Ionescu would step up, given the fact that the game was held at her alma mater, Oregon. Sab dropped 25 points, and fellow Oregon and Liberty teammate Nyara Sabally had a decent game with seven points.
https://twitter.com/nyliberty/status/1922451217294229955
WNBA legend Breanna Stewart, who didn’t play against the Sun, had a 16-point and two-steal performance against the Antelopes.
Guard Marine Johannès is back and better than ever for New York, after spending last season focusing on the Olympic Games representing France. When Johannès played for the Liberty in 2019, 2022, and 2023, she averaged 8.0 points per game. In the most recent preseason game, Marine is starting strong with 10 points, two assists, and one block.
Looking Ahead
With Betnijah Laney-Hamilton ruled out for the season due to injury, New York has its work cut out. Leonna Odom and Esmery Martínez have just been waived, so the final roster is set.
As of now, the chemistry between the athletes is there, but not to the full potential it could be. The preseason jitters are out of the way for the reigning champs, so we will see what they bring to the table in the regular season.
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