The Liberty and their all-male observe squad engaged in a fierce and bodily battle on the observe courtroom Saturday at Barclays Heart in preparation for Sunday’s postseason sport towards Atlanta.
“It was a no-bullshit observe, that is for certain,” All-Star guard Sabrina Ionescu mentioned. “It wasn’t a shootout, we have been recorded and going dwell. The boys have been of their playoff scouting mode. So it is thrilling as a result of I do know we’re going to have the ability to come out prepared.”
Coach Sandy Brondello and the Liberty have been extraordinarily targeted all season on incomes the No. 1 seed, particularly after falling quick within the WNBA Finals a yr in the past to the Las Vegas Aces.
That upset stored the Liberty because the league’s solely unique franchise nonetheless in search of its first title.
A 32-8 document ensured Brondello’s star-studded workforce had home-court benefit all through the postseason, together with the highest two in Brooklyn in an always-dangerous best-of-three collection within the first spherical vs. Tina Charles and No. 8 Atlanta.
The Dream completed simply 15-25, however closed out the 40 sport streak with a win Thursday night at Barclaysalbeit with the Liberty resting All-Star ahead Breanna Stewart and others within the second half with nothing to play for within the common season finale.
“Look, I wasn’t pleased with the way in which we performed. You’re feeling comfy if you’re on high and you’ll’t,” Brondello mentioned. “Anyone can beat anyone and I simply attempt to emphasize that.
“We’re going again to final yr’s expertise, we nearly misplaced to Washington [in the first round]. It is about us. It is a residence courtroom, however we are able to lose it shortly if we do not maintain enterprise. It is about remembering what it appears like. All of us have reminiscences and that must be sufficient, simply having a bit correct concern is okay.
Therefore Saturday’s fierce observe, together with two-way models towards the lads, which Brondello described as “going to an entire totally different degree” of depth.
“We have had an excellent day of preparation and I am excited to see the extent of depth with which we come out and play [Sunday]as a result of it is going to be a lot greater than what we did within the common season,” Ionescu mentioned. “They’re a workforce with nothing to lose and these groups are harmful.
“It would not matter if you happen to’re an 8 or a 1, something can occur. The loss within the final sport motivated us and doubtless we would have liked that to know that each workforce goes to come back right here and provides us their greatest.”
Certainly, as Brondello remembers, the Liberty wanted extra time in Sport 2 to comb the Mystics in final yr’s first spherical to keep away from relinquishing home-court benefit to Washington for a decisive Sport 3.
“I am actually excited to be at this level as a result of that is the place we begin to chase our aim,” mentioned Stewart, a two-time WNBA champion earlier in her profession with the Seattle Storm. “Primary was undoubtedly certainly one of our targets. We needed to ensure we gained the house courtroom, particularly on this league the place you see the video games are so robust and we wish to have our crowd behind us. We’ve got to win at residence and we do not wish to go to Atlanta for the third one.”
Stewart, the previous UConn standout and 2023 league MVP in her first season in New York, added that she was “excited to come back in at present and chase it a bit bit, simply to be prepared for what’s coming” in pursuit of the franchise’s elusive first title.
“It is one of the best time of the yr, it is why you play, it is what you play for,” Stewart mentioned. “I am excited to share some new reminiscences with some new teammates and make everybody keep in mind that feeling of what it is wish to play playoff basketball at Barclays.”
