Key Highlights
- New York Liberty end a three-game losing streak with an 84-74 win over Phoenix Mercury.
- Leonie Fiebich makes her season debut for the Liberty after playing in Spain.
- Betnijah Laney-Hamilton returns from personal reasons and scores seven points.
- Marine Johannes leads the Liberty with 21 points, going 7-of-9 from three-point range.
The Return of Fiebich
Leonie Fiebich made her long-awaited debut for the New York Liberty on Wednesday. The German forward, who recently joined the WNBA after a stint in Spain, scored nine points and brought stability to the team’s offense as per coach Chris DeMarco. “As advertised, she’s so steady,” said DeMarco with a mix of relief and satisfaction.
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“A really good addition,” DeMarco praised Fiebich, highlighting her role in the Liberty’s recent resurgence. Meanwhile, Fiebich herself admitted to still being in transition: “The system is new, I’m still learning a lot.”
Other Players Return and Perform
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton also returned from personal reasons and contributed seven points. Jonquel Jones had 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Marine Johannes led the scoring with an impressive 21 points, hitting seven of her nine three-point attempts.
The Game Summary
The Liberty faced a Phoenix Mercury team that was facing their fourth consecutive loss. The game saw the Liberty produce a franchise-record 23-0 run spanning the third and fourth quarters. Despite the absence of key players like Satou Sabally, who was a game-time scratch due to illness, and Sabrina Ionescu, who had a foot injury, New York managed to secure victory.
Coach DeMarco acknowledged their efforts: “We turned it up.
We were playing hard. We know we have it in us. We just had to feel it and get some momentum.”
The Liberty and Mercury will face each other again on Friday at Barclays Center, with Sabally’s return status uncertain.
