Story by
It’s took until the playoffs, but Liberty finally firing on all cylinders
- Story by
- It’s took until the playoffs, but Liberty finally firing on all cylinders
In Game 46 of the Liberty 's 2026 WNBA season, the team found its flow state.
The clichés from players and the coach speaking of working to be in their sharpest form in the biggest moments finally manifested.
Advertisement
The manifestations materialized throughout the Liberty's first-round series against top-seeded Minnesota Lynx — with the brightest moments coming in Tuesday's decisive Game 2 clincher that made New York the first-ever eighth seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in WNBA history.
The 87-71 victory produced moments from Brooklyn's Big 3 — and supporting cast — so good that it prompted the always stoic and reserved Chris DeMarco to praise his team: "We knew we had to be at our best end of September and October, and I think we are right now."
"Well, it's the Big 3 playing the way they did, and then every other piece around it as well. I just feel like this was a game of such great team basketball," said Rebecca Allen . "I think there was even one offensive possession where the ball went around and back again until we found an even better shot.
"That for us is really showing that we're taking such strides as a team offensively, and I feel like defensively we're so connected also. It was a pretty cool game to be a part of."
Advertisement
As Allen referenced, the Liberty hunted for offensive opportunities with intention, which didn't happen enough during a disappointing regular season.
Perhaps one of the best possessions of Tuesday's Game 2 — probably one of the best this season — began with Pauline Astier attacking Minnesota's Courtney Williams , who is more than susceptible to the French rookie's drive, but ended with Leonie Fiebich 's corner three-pointer at the 8:50 mark of the third quarter.
Only one Liberty player (Astier) dribbled during the 20-second possession, but four out of five players got a touch as the ball skipped around the perimeter.
Astier, known for her driving prowess in just her first WNBA season, got Oliva Miles to bite and help from the weak side, putting Minnesota's defense in a blender.
Advertisement
What ensued next is exactly what DeMarco has preached since training camp: paint touches that lead to open looks on the perimeter.
The ball skipped to Fiebich in the corner before going to Jonquel Jones on the nearest wing, then to Stewart at the top of the key.
The unselfishness is what charged the possession, and it generated two open looks — Sabrina Ionescu in the opposite corner and Jones on the wing. Jones, the tone-setter and best player of Game 2 (21 points and 13 rebounds), had every right and reason to finish the possession with a three-pointer of her own.
But the ball moved one more time to an open Fiebich in the corner.
Advertisement
The basket didn't only symbolize a successful possession, but symbolized what a finished product looked like when the Liberty can fire on all cylinders.
Because on Tuesday, they were too much to handle.
"And I feel like tonight we continue to take steps in the right direction," said Ionescu, who logged 18 points and seven assists in the win. "Our best basketball is yet to come. And I think that's something that we all believe in."
The execution followed on the defensive end. They were on a string defensively for large moments of the game, and they continued to not let Miles, the unanimous Rookie of the Year, get comfortable.
Advertisement
A lot of the work done against the leader of the Lynx's offense was done prior to the postseason series.
"Knowing they're a very systematic team. Like knowing when she wants to use a ball screen with who, who's the post who's going to set the screen, that kind of stuff really helps because we have different coverages," Fiebich said.
Miles was always met with a defender anywhere on the court. Her pick-and-rolls and re-screens didn't garner much separation for her to win possessions in ways she did this season — find open teammates, score on rhythm shots or finish at the rim.
In Game 1, her drives were often met by Jones ready to pounce in the paint.
Advertisement
In the second quarter of Game 2, Jones delivered a message that told the entire Barclays Center that the rookie still has lessons to learn.
The possession showcased the Liberty's defensive versatility and clock awareness.
What started with Fiebich marking Miles from the backcourt, turned into a zone defense and ended with a crucial Jones rotation as the team seamlessly shifted back into man coverage at the end of the shot clock.
After Minnesota's ball movement and off-ball cuts, the Liberty hopped back into man coverage with 10 seconds remaining. Miles, guarded by Stewart, didn't make a drive to the rim until the shot clock hit five seconds. She got a stop on Stewart, but as the clock winded down, Jones realized her opponent's intention to finish at the rim.
Advertisement
Jones sprinted across the paint, swatted the shot to the Lynx's bench.
The defense was on a string, teammates communicated and the effort never wavered.
The Liberty were in flow state.
"We say that playoff basketball is a new season in so many ways, and I think we really embraced that mentality," Allen said.
