It’s Rivals Week in the WNBA, and with Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier both injured, this finals rematch puts the depth of the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx to the test.
The Lynx are 3-0 against the Liberty this season, highlighting the biggest flaw of the reigning champions: a lack of urgency. Complacency is a concern with the Liberty, easily falling short on defense and turning over the ball at a level that is unacceptable for a championship-level team.
With Stewart gone, and the Liberty coach, Sandy Brondello, struggling to coach an injured team, rim pressure and defensive scheming are practically nonexistent.
Despite being jokingly referred to online as a “role player super team” without Collier, the Lynx are doing just fine without the MVP favorite. To make up for the absence of their stars, the Liberty acquired Emma Meesseman, the 2019 WNBA Champion, Finals MVP, two-time All-Star and two-time EuroBasket MVP.
The Lynx acquired DiJonai Carrington, the 2024 Most Improved Player.
For the Liberty, this means added IQ and a versatile big. For the Lynx, this means an elevated defense and a budding star.
The officiating discrepancies of this game made it difficult to watch, with the Liberty making 5/8 free throws while the Lynx made 23/33. The questioning of referees is ingrained in the rivalry between these two teams, as questionable officiating was a recurring issue when they met last year in the finals.
For Liberty fans, this loss might have felt aggravating because this was a very winnable game. Besides the difference in free throw opportunities given, the complacency problem applied to nearly every player on the court.
It’s evident in the team’s starting center Jonquel Jones. Now with Stewart out of the lineup, Jones has much more pressure to perform defensively, making her offense shakier.
Inconsistencies in the Liberty’s performance cannot be brought up without mentioning the All-Star point guard and MVP candidate Sabrina Ionescu. At times, she can’t be guarded, which got her to multiple 30-point games this season.
When she’s unable to step up, it’s displayed in terrible efficiency, putting her team in a difficult position and halting their offense completely. Will the chip on Minnesota’s shoulder lead them to their fifth championship or will the Liberty continue to keep New York out of their championship drought? Come playoffs, both the Liberty and the Lynx will likely look more complete and have the drive to play competitively.
