7/23/2023- The New York Liberty defeated the Indiana Fever 101-83, and I had the chance to briefly discuss with Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart post-game.
July 24, 2023
The New York Liberty made historical past in opposition to the Indiana Fever on Sunday. They had been the primary crew to ever rating 44 factors in any given first quarter in WNBA Historical past.
The Liberty had been on a special degree within the first half 😳
🗽 69.7% FG% 🗽 WNBA-record 44 factors within the first quarter pic.twitter.com/J0gVYQe5xY
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 23, 2023
No, Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart did not cleared the path, nonetheless I had the possibility to meet up with them post-game. They each had been extraordinarily humble, and gave their perception on the crew’s success, and what the Liberty must do, now that the season is midway over.
Breanna Stewart, 28, is within the first yr of her contract with the New York Liberty. Stewart, often called “Stewie,” was a 2x WNBA Champion with the Seattle Storm. The previous No. 1 choose has New York roots and is again in her house state. In Sunday’s sport, Breanna Stewart had 11 factors, 3 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and shot 4-11 from the sphere.
“I am undecided what we shot from for that quarter, but it surely was unimaginable, and everyone was taking part in free and being snug—individuals had been taking pictures confidently and in addition realizing, that is our aim,” stated Breanna Stewart on her crew making WNBA historical past.
With 3:42 to go within the first-quarter, Fever rookie, Aliyah Boston caught a flagrant foul sort 1, after Stewart took an elbow to the face. Aliyah Boston and Breanna Stewart have two issues in widespread: They each had been a former No. 1 total draft choose, they usually each received a championship on the collegiate degree. “Stewie” spoke on the incident following the flagrant.
“[I mean] I simply caught an elbow, issues like that occur.”
Stewart supplied some encouraging phrases for the Fever Middle, and recommendation about being a prime WNBA choose.
“Taking someday at a time—get pleasure from all of the moments, benefit from the struggles, as a result of this can be a journey, and [you know] —you are gonna proceed to construct with an Indiana Fever franchise, that is solely getting higher.” Breanna Stewart on her recommendation as a rookie and what the longer term holds for Aliyah Boston.
KT 🤝 Stewie 🤝 Making it occur for the Libs pic.twitter.com/GywfliTfds
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) July 23, 2023
After the win on Sunday, The Liberty are 16-5, and stand first within the Japanese Convention. With that stated, New York already surpassed their report from 2022-2023, and the second half of the season has began. The Liberty are the second-best crew, and just one crew stands in there method, the Las Vegas Aces. What separates the Aces from the Liberty, and even the Connecticut Solar, is their internet and offensive score. Whereas the Liberty rank second within the league in internet score (7.4), the Aces have them beat at a stellar 19.2. As well as, Las Vegas has an offensive score of 114.1, whereas the Liberty have a 107.8 offensive score. Las Vegas had 4 All-Stars symbolize the group, and is chasing the very best report in league historical past, held by the Phoenix Suns in 2014.
After I requested about Stewart’s confidence in her crew, she confidently smiled and acknowledged, ” We’re now in just like the second half of the season— I do know that we wanna proceed to get higher. What we did within the first half is nice—we’re taking it one sport at a time.”
When requested concerning the Las Vegas Aces, Stewie humbly talked about her crew, and the way they plan to maneuver ahead, realizing the Aces stand of their method. “Clearly everybody’s speaking about Vegas, and we’ll see them within the Commisioner’s Cup, and in August, however ensuring that [you know] we proceed to do our due diligence for everyone and concentrate on that. “
Whereas acknowledging the expertise within the WNBA, Stewart acknowledged the significance of doing their homework and staying to themselves. “If we proceed to take a look at ourselves, and proceed to get higher that method, then the remaining is for everybody else.”
Breanna Stewart additionally opened up about teammate, Betnijah Laney, who had a career-high 22 factors final sport, and her playstyle. “I’ve identified her for a very long time, like since we had been 14 or 16—so to be again together with her, know that she by no means stops—I am searching for her, she’s searching for me, and simply persevering with to construct that chemistry, as a result of she will get open— she’s open lots, particularly within the corners. “
Breanna Stewart on arduous work and the way it pays off on the courtroom, ” I believe it is extra like trusting the method and persevering with to sort of keep it up.”
Sabrina Ionescu on Sunday’s sport, relaxation days, and the remainder of the season.
Sabrina Ionescu, 25, is a two-time All-Star, and simply broke the all-time NBA and WNBA three-point contest report with 37. Ionescu, drafted first total in 2016, has a special position now that her, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones fashioned a “superteam.”
It is giving 4PT shot from All-Star 😭 @sabrina_i20 is TUFF 🪣 pic.twitter.com/bfT8TUPiuY
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) July 23, 2023
When requested concerning the crew’s success shifting ahead, Sabrina was very adamant about trusting her teammates, particularly the bench. “To have gamers are available in off the bench and hit—hitting photographs and taking part in in rhythm—it is large for us as a crew, and for them themselves, to only proceed to construct confidence.
Ionescu additionally talked about the significance of gameplay and the way the Liberty had been in a position to play so efficient in opposition to the Fever. ” We’re constructing chemistry—we had been in a position to play to one another’s strengths and use the gravity that we’ve got— not letting defenses actually dictate what we wanna do—and we had been ready to try this tonight. “
Now that the season is midway over, New York has to lock in for 19 common season video games earlier than the beginning of the playoffs. Sabrina was in a position to make clear her relaxation days, and the way the crew mentally and bodily prepares for the subsequent sport. “You realize, usually we’re in right here making an attempt to get additional photographs up—understanding what the schedule seems forward, means [you know] tomorrow is off, and everybody’s gotta get their toes and take time to get well—we gotta keep recent and locked in to have the ability to play for 40 minutes as a result of we play at such a quick tempo.”
I particularly requested Sabrina about her means to remain humble and keep disciplined following her historic All-Star weekend. Ionescu confidently acknowledged, “I do know what I am able to—able to doing [you know] each single evening, and I belief the work that I’ve put in.” “Whether or not it is tonight or video games sooner or later, I do know that I am gonna must hit photographs for us to proceed to win basketball video games.”
The New York Liberty will look to construct on their success tomorrow in opposition to the Seattle Storm, at house.
Keep tuned for extra WNBA and basketball associated articles.
Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, Journalist, and Sports activities Content material Creator on Twitch. She has a concentrate on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane at the moment resides in Connecticut together with her Cat and Canine. She is a Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, New York Yankees, and New York Giants fan. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics.
