(Kaplan’s Note: This article was written by Jordan Greene. We’re still working out the kinks as we transition from Chorus to WordPress publishing, so in the meantime, some of our writers will be using me, Lucas Kaplan, as a medium.)
Sometimes, it is important to have reminders on who you are. The Liberty lost their last three games of July, then opened August with a loss to the league-worst Connecticut Sun. Dog days indeed.
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Since then, they have now won two in a row, including a big 85-76 win against the Dallas Wings Tuesday night. It was particularly satisfying, because the Libs’ blowout loss to the Wings back on July 28 might have been the most demoralizing loss of the season to that point. Tonight, the Liberty take on the Wings in their last matchup of the season to see who will win the series between the two, this time in Dallas.
Where To Watch
Check out the action at 7:30 PM on ION TV.
Injuries
Breanna Stewart and Nyara Sabally continue to be absent with knee injuries, while Kennedy Burke is out for another couple weeks with a calf strain.
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On the other side, young superstar Paige Beuckers is questionable for tonight’s game as she is experiencing back issues. Myisha Hines-Allen is also questionable with an ankle injury, while Tyasha Harris is out for the rest of the season after going through a procedure on her left knee.
The Game
In the win against the Wings, the frontcourt was the name of the game for the Libs. The trio of Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fiebich, and newcomer Emma Meesseman combined for 42 points and proved that Dallas was just too small for them down low.
New York’s defense proved to be a key factor as well. Arike Ogunbowale (who I have to admit is my favorite player outside of a player in a Liberty uniform) was held to just 14 points on 3-of-12 shooting from the field. The name of the game today, though, will be Paige Beuckers. Bet you couldn’t guess that? She was the main catalyst the Liberty couldn’t stop. She dropped 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Beuckers’ availability having a question mark next to it, her potential absence would leave the Wings in a darker spot than it could already be in with their 8-22 season record.
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Of course if she was in street clothes instead of her Wings uniform, the Liberty would be even clearer favorites even without their superstar in Breanna Stewart.
Player to Watch
Outside of Bueckers, Grace Berger played well in the Wings loss to the Liberty. Berger is currently on her third seven-day hardship contract with Dallas, and has thus far displayed real poise and athleticism, traits that could secure her a permanent spot in the WNBA as the expansion era begins. If Bueckers doesn’t play, she and point guard J.J. Quinerly will need to step up big time.
On Tuesday, Berger played a season high 21 minutes. “That was the feel. She got in, and I liked that on offense she was keeping it simple, moving the ball, and getting it where it needed to go,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com about the decision to play Berger. “She had us organized. Defensively, she competes. She’s bigger and longer than you think, she’s physical, and she can stay in plays. I thought she did a really good job at times against Cloud, even on Sabrina, just staying straight up around the rim. She brought another fight and toughness that we needed.”
From the Vault
Paige Bueckers earned her second Rookie of the Month award this week, after, averaging 18.2 PPG,
3.2 RPG, and 5.2 APG in July. She’s very, very good.
