The New York Liberty (3-4) aren’t in complete disarray just yet, but if they’re not careful, things could unravel quickly.
Following an 81-74 loss to Portland on Monday, the Liberty have now lost three straight and four of their last five matchups. Dating back to last season, and a stunning first-round exit in the playoffs, the Liberty are 2-6 over their last eight games. It’s not just that they are losing; it’s how they are losing.
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New York is struggling to find consistency. For as much as it is actively scoring, it’s giving up even more on the other end. Over New York‘s last three games, it’s averaging 73.3 points (14th in the WNBA), and its 112.1 defensive rating ranks 11th in the league. The Liberty have given up 80 points or more in each matchup, including 37 shots from beyond the arc. Turnovers have also not helped. New York ranks 14th in the WNBA in total turnovers (109) this season. Over 40% of those turnovers (45) have come during its losing streak.
What’s more, the Liberty are faltering in the second half, often squandering leads while stuggling to keep up with opposing teams. New York has been outscored 139-109 during its last three matchups, including giving up 32 points in the fourth quarter to Portland. New York Liberty guard Breanna Stewart admits when the team said things would take time to develop in training camp, given a first-year head coach and retooled roster, this is “definitely not” what was expected.
“It’s a learning experience for everyone. I think that my message to the players in the locker room is like, ‘Nobody expected this,'” Stewart said. “It’s gonna take time, and there’s gonna be highs and lows, and while it seems like we’re in the lows right now, eventually we’ll get to a place where everybody really confident, comfortable in what’s going on.”
New York is currently missing Sabrina Ionescu (foot) and Satou Sabally (cyst/illness), who have been in and out of the lineup. Additionally, the Liberty are without Betnijah Laney Hamilton (personal) and Leonie Fiebich (rest/returning from overseas commitment).
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All four players provide elements that help the Liberty play at an elite level, including facilitation, scoring and high-pressure defense. That likely explains why the Liberty have looked disjointed as they trudge through its early slate of games. It might also explain why Stewart shared she would prefer this sort of rough stretch happen early rather than late in the season.
Still, it doesn’t quite explain why New York has looked like a shell of itself, even with the lightest strength of schedule through the first quarter of the season. The Liberty have four games against 2025 playoff teams in their first eleven matchups.
At some point, should New York keep losing, injuries won’t hold up as reasoning for the mounting losses. Still, New York has a chance to get back in the win column on Wednesday and Friday with consecutive games against another team that needs wins, the Phoenix Mercury (2-5).
“This is how it goes sometimes. We had a lead. We let it get away. Turnovers hurt us,” head coach Chris DeMarco said.
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DeMarco said it’s hard to establish a rhythm offensively with so many turnovers, but he thought the Liberty did “some good things” Monday and made strides defensively that the team can use as it heads into its next game.
“We’re gonna be ready to play Phoenix (on Wednesday),” DeMarco said. “Our biggest thing is like we’re gonna have confidence going into the Phoenix game. We’ll be ready to play. That’s it.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The New York Liberty are struggling. Is it time to panic?
