In a battle between the 2 finest groups record-wise within the WNBA, the defending East champion Liberty (10-2) handed the Solar (9-1) their first lack of the season.
Listed here are three takeaways from New York’s 82-75 win.
Jonquel Jones takes an even bigger function in Liberty assault
In her second season in New York, the 2022 league MVP with Connecticut is taking over an even bigger function within the Liberty’s offense. She was excellent on Saturday, ending with 22 factors on 9-of-14 taking pictures, eight rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks.
Final season, Jones’ first with the Liberty, the eight-year veteran averaged 8.4 subject purpose makes an attempt per sport, her fewest since 2018. She was second on the staff in makes an attempt on Saturday and has been an important scoring risk for New York as 2023 MVP Breanna Stewart finds her rhythm. By means of the Liberty’s first 12 video games, Stewart is taking pictures a career-worst 20 % from three on 4.2 makes an attempt per sport. With Jones carving out an even bigger house for herself, New York hasn’t skipped a beat.
Solar’s offensive limitations may maintain them again
Throughout Saturday’s broadcast, ABC shared a graphic that exposed every of the final six groups to start the season 9-0 reached the WNBA Finals. For a superb portion of the sport, the Solar confirmed why they might be the seventh.
Connecticut confirmed its defensive chops within the second and third quarters by limiting New York to 29 factors and stopping it from recording not less than one offensive board for the primary time in franchise historical past.
But when Connecticut needs to hitch that unique group later this season, it should have a extra dependable three-point offense.
The Solar shot 4-of-16 from deep towards the Liberty, dropping them 0.02 share factors behind the Wings (28.67 %) for the league’s worst fee (28.65 %).
Sabrina Ionescu units a brand new customary
Liberty guard Ionescu set a WNBA benchmark on Saturday, turning into the quickest to 300 made regular-season three-point subject objectives in league historical past (117 video games).
