One of my all time favorite movies growing up was a basketball classic that featured one of the most prominent figures in the 70’s, Julius “The Doctor” Erving. That movie was called “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.”
It followed the struggling Pittsburgh Pythons basketball team, who are the laughing stock of their league, and it’s highest paid and often times difficult star, Moses Guthrie (Erving). Their ballboy, Tyrone Millman, is a believer in this team and comes up with a plan to improve the team by way of astrology. After introducing the unusual idea to astrologer Mona Mondieu, they compose an idea to acquire players born under Guthrie’s astrological sign, Pisces. Although skeptical, the idea is put into motion and using Mona’s astrological readings and the skills possessed by Guthrie’s teammates and himself, the newly named Pittsburgh Pisces became successful and worked their way into winning a Championship.
The New York Liberty, the 2023 WNBA Finals runner-up, were led by the league MVP in Breanna Stewart, 2021 league MVP Jonquel Jones, and 2020 number one overall pick Sabrina Ionescu. They were minutes away from a game 5 in Las Vegas and pushing a depleted Aces team to the brink. That didn’t happen as Vegas sealed game 4 and their second straight championship in a remarkable 4th quarter surge.
All throughout 2023, the Liberty were faced with a simple challenge: “They are talented for sure, but the bench is so thin. How can they secure a championship without one?” 2024 should be examined as a key indicator of why they hold the best record in the league at 23-4.
Fiebich does it all
In 2023, the Liberty acquired the rights to a 6’4 German forward named Leonie Fiebich in a deal that sent Marina Mabrey to the Chicago Sky, Michaela Onyenwere to the Phoenix Mercury and Diamond DeShields to the Dallas Wings. Playing with Zaragoza in Spain at the time, Fiebich averaged 14.5 points, 7.1 rebounds while shooting 44.6% from 3. It wasn’t clear at the time if or when Leonie would make the leap to the WNBA. Fast forward to 2024 and here she is, possibly becoming one of the most prominent players the Liberty have acquired since Betnijah Laney-Hamilton in 2021 from a low risk, high reward perspective (Let’s be logical for a second and know that it’s understood Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones are indeed the most important acquisitions, K? Thanks.).
Since joining the seafoam, Fiebich has averaged six points, three rebounds and 1.7 assists on .418/.375/.733 shooting splits. Her activity has increased since June, averaging 24 minutes with a 14.1% usage rate. Her presence on the court has been a God send for the Liberty, as she is currently in the starting lineup in place of Laney-Hamilton, who is continuing to rehab from knee surgery.
Fiebich’s versatility on the wing and in the low post defensively has given the Liberty an extra source of length. On offense, her shooting ability helps balance the scales of a prominent inside/out scheme Coach Sandy Brondello loves to run.
I mentioned prior to singing Fiebich’s praises that New York was not too polished defensively, even with being ranked third in Defensive Rating in 2023. They were also ranked tenth in pace in ’23. This year, they are 2nd in defensive rating and 9th in pace. Some of that credit can be attributed to Fiebich and her ability to run the floor, fill space, and provide shooting on the wing. Along with those skills, she’s earned praise for her ball handling and generating offense in fast break opportunities.
So where does the parallel to “The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh” come into play? Well, it’s really just a concept where her style of play for this team fits perfectly, sort of like the astrologer using her readings to help boost team morale, skills and experience to give the New York Liberty sole possession of number one with 15 games left on the season and the 4th easiest schedule remaining. So, could this be the Fiebich that Saved New York? Only time will tell.