All eyes are on New York.
The Liberty had a legendary offseason and are one of the favorites to win the WNBA championship. The pressure will be on Sandy Brondello’s club to bring New York back to hoops glory. However, the team is not putting too much on its shoulders and is building day by day. The preseason is done and the regular season starts in a few days, so let’s look at some key aspects of this year’s camp.
Communication
With new players come new roles and new routines. It is something Brondello spoke about recently after practice.
“The more comfortable you are, the more you can just go out there and play and play instinctively,” Brondello said. “And you know, we’ve got rules for things but we want them to just feel it by doing. But communication is a really big part. Communication is not just on the court, but off the court. It’s how our culture is all built, too.”
Throughout camp, the Liberty made it a point to be vocal and active on both sides of the ball. It was something Kayla Thornton mentioned in an early media session.
“I’m a very vocal person,” Thornton said. “For me, my main thing is my defense and then obviously my offense comes. So [I’m] just coming in and trying to be the best two-way player I can be and filling in where [the team] needs me to be.”
The Liberty coaching staff has encouraged players to talk frequently, as it builds trust on the court among teammates and provides accountability. When the players are able to direct each other, it works to amplify the coaching staff’s messages.
Finding the rhythm
Although the Liberty lost both of their preseason games, fans started to see what they will look like at full strength. Against the Las Vegas Aces, New York shot 11-of-29 from three-point range in Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart’s preseason debuts. Nekias Duncan of ‘The Dunker Spot‘ painted the picture here with a breakdown of this Liberty set.
The Liberty were first in three-point attempts in 2022 and fifth in efficiency. New York had trouble getting downhill to the basket for much of the season but improved down the stretch. Having threats all over the floor will provide more space for players to operate with, and with that comes easier opportunities to finish at the basket and get to the free-throw line.
The Liberty are still without Courtney Vandersloot, but she is expected to be back soon and is the final piece to the starting five. After practice on May 2, Brondello noted, ”Last year, we needed the first month just to develop some chemistry with each other, understanding of the system, and how we want to play.”
To more succinctly describe the injury-plagued first month, Brondello stated that “shit happens.”
This training camp was different, as everyone was in the market and with the team throughout the preseason. With availability comes familiarity and comfort for the team as everyone gets to pick up on the terminology and each other’s cues.
With Vandersloot running the show, she will address one of the Liberty’s big bug-a-boos from 2022. New York was ninth in turnover rate and eighth in opponent’s points off of turnovers. That should improve dramatically in 2023 as the Liberty will get to maximize every possession. With Betnijah Laney, Sabrina Ionescu, Jones and Stewart, keeping the turnovers to a minimum will maximize the pressure on the opponent. The attention the starting five draws will also create opportunities for the rest of the roster to cash in.
Versatility
We know the big five, but the bench is just as potent. Players like Kayla Thornton, Han Xu, Stef Dolson and Jocelyn Willoughby have a lot to offer on both sides of the court. Thornton and Willoughby both provide great defense and can defend multiple positions. Dolson is a great passer out of the high post and provides physicality as well. Han was a revelation last season and is rapidly getting better by the day. And, fans have not even gotten to the Walking Highlight Reel yet!
Brondello has a myriad of options to turn to and lineups to try. With a 40-game schedule, the Liberty have time to figure out what does and does not work. The talent is there and so is the coaching, so fans will have to tune in and see if the Liberty are ready to take off and have a season for the ages.