By Justin “Say Say” Rivers
Betnijah Laney and the New York Liberty (10-11, 3rd in Eastern Conference) will kick off the second half of the season looking to snap a two-game skid against Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx (12-7, 3rd in Western Conference).
In their final game before the hiatus, the Liberty hosted the Sun. Against Connecticut, Kylee Shook shined for New York setting new career-highs for the second-straight game with her career-high 16-point outing. Shook showcased her efficiency going 6-for-8 from the field, including an impressive 4-for-5 from deep.
In total, the Liberty had three double-digit scorers: Kylee Shook (16), Michaela Onyenwere (12), and Jazmine Jones (10).
FIRST HALF RECAP
As the third-ranked team in the Eastern Conference standings, New York is only half a game behind the second-ranked Sky. They are also the sixth-ranked team in the league standings and three games behind the Lynx for fourth. This leaves the Liberty in prime position to make a late season climb up the standings and make the postseason for the first time since 2017.
Coming into the second half of the WNBA season, the Liberty lead the league in made triples (212), having made over 20 more than the second-ranked Storm (191). They are also top-5 in three-point percentage and have the league’s best three-point markswoman, Sami Whitcomb, on the roster.
Whitcomb tops the league in made threes and is the only player in the top-5 in both made three-pointers and three-point percentage.
New York is also led by their All-Star, Betnijah Laney. Averaging 19 points and five assists per game, she is one of two players in the league averaging 19-plus points and five-plus assists per game this season.
REMEMBER THE TIME
On May 18th, the Liberty and the Lynx matched up in Brooklyn, and New York came away with an 11-point, 86-75 victory in their third game of 2020. The win was highlighted by a historic night from Sabrina Ionescu that led the Liberty to their first 3-0 start in over a decade.
Ionescu finished with a team-high 26 points and dropped a 26-point, 12-assist, 10-rebound triple-double – the first in franchise history. With her performance, Ionescu – who had an NCAA record 26 triple-doubles in college – not only recorded the tenth triple-double in WNBA history, but also became the fastest player to reach the statistical feat.
Betnijah Laney finished with 20 points and five assists on 8-for-12 shooting from the field and a perfect 2-for-2 from deep in her third game in seafoam,
FAMILIAR FACES
Natasha Howard spent two seasons with the Lynx, during which she won a WNBA Championship in 2017.
Liberty head coach Walt Hopkins and assistant coach Shelley Patterson both joined the New York’s staff after a tenure in Minnesota, where they also won the 2017 WNBA Championship. Since the entire 2020 season was played in the “Wubble,” this game will signify their first return to Minnesota.
Lynx assistant coach, Katie Smith, previously served as the Liberty’s head coach from 2018-2019. Smith also played for the Liberty during her final WNBA season in 2013. Fellow Lynx assistant coach, Plenette Pierson, played five seasons for the Liberty from 2010-2014.
This contest will mark the first time that Layshia Clarendon will face the Liberty since being waived by New York in May. In 2020, the 5-foot-9 guard averaged a career-high 11.5 points per game with the Liberty. Since signing with Minnesota, Clarendon has helped the Lynx rack up seven-straight victories en route to the third spot in the Western Conference standings.
WELCOME BACK
After having missed the last 15 games, the Liberty are expected to welcome three-time WNBA Champion Natasha Howard back to the lineup. The 6-foot-2 defensive anchor has played in two games this season – both wins. In those contests, she averaged 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.