By Justin “Say Say” Rivers

Betnijah Laney and the New York Liberty (8-9, 3^rd in Eastern) return home to the Big Apple to take on former Liberty franchise player Tina Charles and the Washington Mystics (7-9, 4^th in Eastern).

Last game, the Liberty took on the Dream in Atlanta to close out a two-game, road miniseries. After a near wire-to-wire victory in the prior game, New York spent the majority of the contest trailing by a slight margin as the squad always had an answer to keep the game within reach. After trailing 59-53 in the waning minute of the third quarter following a Crystal Bradford offensive board and putback, a Betnijah Laney layup sparked a 16-6 rally that saw the team take a 69-65 advantage with four minutes remaining in the game. While a well-defended Courtney Williams go-ahead floater would put the Dream ahead with 58.2 seconds left, the Liberty still had a chance after Chennedy Carter split a pair of free throws with 18.4 seconds remaining and Atlanta desperately clinging to a three-point lead. In the end, New York was able to orchestrate a three-point shot for their best markswoman, Sami Whitcomb, and were a made triple away from forcing overtime.

New York’s recently announced 2021 All Star Betnijah Laney starred against her former squad. Despite often navigating traps and double teams, she put in a 16-point, seven-assist, five-rebound performance.

That evening, Michaela Onyenwere was the team’s second-leading scorer with 13 points. Plus, she was efficient from beyond the three-point arc, shooting 2-for-4 from deep. Saturday night’s star Sami Whitcomb drained three of her five three-point attempts, scored 11 points, and was active on the glass, pulling down seven boards. Sophomore forward Leaonna Odom, who was selected No. 15 overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft by the Liberty, added ten points off the bench and drained her only three-point attempt and all five of her free throw opportunities.

BROOKLYN’S FINEST

On Wednesday, the WNBA announced the roster selections for the 2021 AT&T WNBA All Star Game, and New York’s Betnijah Laney was among eight first-time All Stars selected.

After a breakout 2020 campaign that garnered the 6-foot combo guard last season’s Most Improved Player award, Laney signed a multi-year deal with the Liberty that off-season. Laney has proven herself to be not only a bona fide bucket-getter, but also a WNBA superstar with the all-around game to match.

This season, she has played and started in all 17 of the Liberty’s games and is averaging 19.7 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game on 50.0% shooting from the field. With these numbers, she ranks in the top-10 in the WNBA in scoring and assists and top-15 in field goal percentage.

Moreover, there appears to be a direct correlation between Laney’s play and the team’s success. The New York Liberty are 7-4 when she scores 20+ points and are 6-2 when she not only drops 20+ points, but also is efficient by shooting 47% or better from the floor.

HELD ME DOWN

Although these two teams have already played this season, Saturday’s contest will mark Tina Charles’s first time returning to New York to play her former team since being traded to Washington in April.

The 6-foot-4 center and native of Jamaica, Queens spent six seasons with her hometown team where she averaged 18.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and led the team in scoring and rebounding. Charles became the first player in franchise history to garner First-Team All-WNBA honors in three-consecutive seasons, and, in 2016, she won a WNBA record four-straight Player of the Month awards. Plus, she is the current franchise leader in points, 25+-point games, and total rebounds.

BUSINESS

Now, let’s get down to business. Both of these squads are coming off of a loss and are hungry to get back in the win column. In their previous matchup this season, the Mystics were able to hand the Liberty their first loss of 2021, which New York is looking to avenge. A win would also even up the season series with a potential rubber match awaiting in September.

In their May 21^st meeting, Betnijah Laney shined with a 20-point, five-assist night. She erupted in the second period for a 16-point quarter. Plus, she shot 50% from the field and from deep. Sabrina had a typical all-around performance, scoring ten points, dishing out five dimes, and pulling down six boards. For Washington, Tina Charles and Ariel Atkins combined for 59 of the Mystics’s 101 points.

With Washington coming into Saturday’s showdown losers of three-straight games, New York has an opportunity to get back in the winner’s circle; however, the Liberty will need to not only trust their potent offense, but also put in a team effort on defense to stymie their former star’s production if they want to come away with a win in front of their home crowd at Barclays Center.