Well, until it’s time to play the third quarter. Aside from that, however, the title speaks for itself.
The New York Liberty are 8-0 and have crushed every single opponent that’s stood before them. Their average winning margin is 19 points. They’re scoring the most points per game in the league while allowing the least.
Additionally, they are shooting the lights out. No one has come close to or looks to be able to stop them.
What’s made this New York Liberty machine so destructive, and can anyone stop it?
Natasha Cloud: Signing of the Offseason
If the signing of the offseason was a winnable award, it’s already been decided within the first two weeks.
Natasha Cloud was blindsided by the Phoenix Mercury this offseason when she was shipped to Connecticut in a massive four-team deal. She was told she was going to “retire as a Phoenix Mercury“, but evidently that commitment was one-sided. Furthermore, the Sun didn’t want her, either— they were focused on a rebuild as they were cut thin by the trade.
So, they shipped her off to New York for the seventh pick and a 2026 first-rounder.
From day one, Cloud has justified the move tenfold. She is fourth in the league in assists per game and first in box plus-minus. In her Liberty debut against the Aces, she scored 22 points and dished out nine dimes. She added five stocks (blocks + steals) and energized the Barclays Center time and time again.
https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1923817234851344664
Cloud’s ability to see the floor, make the right read and shut down the backcourt on the other end has kicked the Liberty into eighth gear with no signs of slowing down.
The Rise of Kennedy Burke
The centerpieces of the Liberty have done what they always do to start the year. Breanna Stewart leads the team in scoring, Sabrina Ionescu has 20-point games in three of her last four contests, and Jonquel Jones is averaging a double-double while shooting 43% from three. However, in the longest season in WNBA history, the depth of a team’s bench is more important than ever.
Enter Kennedy Burke.
Burke’s sixth year in the W is tracking to be her best yet. She’s averaging career highs in literally everything. Points, rebounds, FG%, 3PT%, stocks — you name it — Burke is setting career marks. In the Liberty’s second game against the Chicago Sky, she scored 17 points and was a perfect 4/4 from beyond the arc. She even hit a very historic three that night— more on that later.
Her astronomical leap in form strengthens the Liberty bench, allowing the starters to be at their best all the time. If Burke’s production continues at this pace, she could very well win 6WOTY.
There’s Nothing This Team Can’t Do
The Liberty are currently on top of all of these categories:
- Points per game (91.1)
- PPG Allowed (72.1)
- Field-goal percentage (47.8%)
- Effective field-goal percentage (57.3%)
- OPP eFG% (42.4%)
- TS% (62%)
- 3PT% (38.2%)
- 3PM (96)
- Offensive Rating (112.0)
- Defensive Rating (88.6)
- Total blocks (43)
- Assist-to-turnover ratio (1.67)
To recap, this team scores more than anyone, shoots better than anyone, AND defends better than anyone?!
It was mentioned earlier that Kennedy Burke hit a very historical three in the Liberty’s second game of the year— her final three of the evening was the 19th New York made that night. That set a new WNBA record that the Liberty then matched in their latest game against the Sun.
Acquisitions like Marine Johannes have bolstered the Liberty’s firepower, and it’s shown. Their offensive production is on track to make them the fourth-most proficient offense in league history, and the most proficient three-point shooting team ever.
On the defensive side, they are the only team with a sub-90 defensive rating. They swat 5.4 shots away per game. Points in the paint come harder against the Liberty than any other team— a massive testament to the interior defense of Stewart and Jones, among others. The additions of Cloud and Rebekah Gardner have stifled guard play, as only one guard has gone for 20 points against the Liberty (Brittney Sykes).
Whew.
The only question to ask is, how long can the Liberty keep this up? There’s never been a perfect WNBA season, and surely someone has to beat this Liberty team….. right?
Right?!
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