The NY Liberty hit the road to the preseason amid title expectations ... again
Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
The Liberty got the NBA Finals last season but fell to the Aces. Now, amid the rising interest in the WNBA, they will try again, starting with tonight’s preseason. Time to warm up! The season officially tips off next week in Washington DC, but any chance we get to see the New York Liberty is always a good thing. Tonight is the first of two preseason games for the seafoam as they prepare for the 2024 WNBA season.
The Chicago Sky have a lot to figure out, and this preseason is key in their goal of figuring out their future. They played the Minnesota Lynx on Friday night and lost 92-81.
Where to follow the game
WNBA League Pass has us covered. Tip after 8 PM. We’ll get to the broadcast part in a moment.
Injuries
Kennedy Burke and Nyara Sabally are just back from overseas play so they’re getting some rest. Ivana Dojkic is not yet with the team so she’s out. Leonie Fiebich is traveling so she’s not playing.
Rookie Kamilla Cardoso left Friday’s game vs. the Lynx with a shoulder injury. She was diagnosed with a shoulder injury and will miss the next six weeks. Brynna Maxwell is out with a knee injury. Isabelle Harrison is questionable with a knee injury. Taya Reimer is in concussion protocol. Brianna Turner and Diamond DeShields are both probable with knee injuries.
The game
Initially, this game wasn’t going to be broadcasted anywhere as far as we can tell. However, everyone got pissed that the Sky’s Friday night game against the Minnesota Lynx wasn’t available and a fan in the arena had to stream the game on her phone so everyone not in the arena could watch. The league used their League Pass time to show the Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings on Friday night, and it was a heck of a game. All eyes are on Caitlin Clark, and Cheryl Reeve noted that while it’s great, the league has to ensure all of their energy isn’t invested in solely one person:
“So, that’s what’s in the way, that decision of ‘Where are you going to spend your money?’ And certainly, Caitlin’s first game, they were gonna value. I’m all for that. I get it. People want to see that, but they also want to see, you know, it’s not just about Caitlin. This isn’t Caitlin’s fault in any way. It’s more, you know, the recognition that there’s general excitement about the WNBA in ways that we haven’t seen before.
“And so we have to capitalize. To really ensure that this is a movement, we have to capitalize on those things. And so we’ll learn. I think we’ll learn. Again, it’s like we say sometimes even on the court like, ‘You can’t fix everything. What’s the low hanging fruit? Let’s try to get to it.”
There’s so much awesome talent in the league now, and it’s up to the executives to ensure everyone gets the props and shine they deserve. While we were writing this story, ESPN announced that their Opening Night doubleheader will also be streamed on Disney+. Good news.
The team has been getting to work in training camp, and I took some time to discuss some early observations with my pals Erica Ayala and Misha Jones on the “Gotta Get Up” podcast!
I don’t remember how I spent my 22nd birthday, but I’m pretty sure Angel Reese had a lot more fun than I did. The Bayou Barbie was in our neck of the woods last night and was at the Met Gala! (along with Ben Simmons.)
Happy Birthday, @Reese10Angel ! The basketball superstar is making her first #MetGala appearance tonight wearing @16Arlington.See more @TheMarkHotelNY departures here: https://t.co/dCcxppu9YC pic.twitter.com/pnNtFCOHpA— WWD (@wwd) May 6, 2024
That’s awesome.
For the Liberty, these two games serve a couple purposes. For the starters, it’s about getting game action against real opponents and fine tuning a few things. Since the games don’t have real stakes attached to it, it’s all about building on the work they’ve done in the first week of training camp. And for the youngsters on the team, it’s about impressing the coaching staff and doing what they can to earn a spot on the roster once the preseason ends. They don’t have much time and the adjustment from college to the pros is an arduous one, but they’ve been working hard and learning a lot from their veteran teammates.
Player to watch: Chennedy Carter
It takes time to find yourself. When you’re young and out in the world, there are going to be plenty of bumps in the road. Your failures will be loud and how you bounce back goes a long way in determining your future. For Chennedy Carter, this will be her third season in the WNBA, but she’s been through a lot already. She was suspended and eventually traded by the Atlanta Dream to the Los Angeles Sparks in 2022. It went pretty terribly with the Sparks and she was waived in 2023. She spent ‘23 in China and is back in the W hoping to regain her footing in the league. One thing to know about Carter is her ability to get to the rim
Chennedy Carter getting to the rim pic.twitter.com/mz0BpEvl4D— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) May 6, 2024
For the Liberty, tonight will be a nice opportunity for their rookie guards to get some good work in. In training camp, Marquesha Davis and Jaylyn Sherrod have stood out in camp as their ability to speed things up and get downhill is a welcome addition to this Liberty roster. In previous years, the team lacked in the athleticism department, and it came back to bite them at the worst possible moments. This year’s roster has more length and switchability than previous teams, so it’ll be exciting to see what Sandy Brondello and friends have in store.
From the Vault
It’s a beautiful day out, and I’m in a chill mood. Here’s DJ Quik!
More reading: Swish Appeal, Chicago Sun Times, The Strickland, The Local W, New York Daily News, New York Post, The Athletic. Fansided, Just Women’s Sports, SI All Knicks, Winsidr, Her Hoop Stats, CBS Sports, and The Next
New York Liberty Game Notes - New York Liberty
Chicago Sky Game Notes - Chicago Sky
Chicago Sky rookie Kamilla Cardoso out at least a month with a shoulder injury - AP
WNBA to Stream New York Liberty-Chicago Sky Preseason Game Due to High Fan Demand - Dustin Schutte - Sports Illustrated
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