Shortly after the final buzzer sounded on a disappointing loss to the Connecticut Sun on Saturday, Sabrina Ionescu vowed the New York Liberty would not experience another underwhelming performance the rest of the way.
After seeing their eight-game winning streak stopped, the Liberty will attempt to avoid taking consecutive losses for the second time this season Monday night when they visit the Phoenix Mercury in the opener of a three-game West Coast trip.
New York (25-5) posted five double-digit victories during its streak before taking its first loss since a five-point setback at Indiana on July 6. Ionescu missed the final two games of the winning streak because of a neck injury. In her return, she was held to 12 points on 3-of-13 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-12 from 3-point range.
“I promise you we won’t have a game like that again this season,” Ionescu said.
The Liberty dropped consecutive games May 23-25 when they were beaten by a combined 26 points against Chicago and Minnesota. Since then, they are 21-3 but are coming off a showing where they shot 36.9 percent after making 35.1 percent in Thursday’s eight-point win over Dallas.
“Our decision-making wasn’t quick, we weren’t getting to the next action quick,” New York coach Sandy Brondello said. “We got to get back to what our true identity is, and that’s moving the ball and creating for each other.”
Phoenix (16-14) is starting a five-game homestand and is 3-2 since the Olympic break. After facing the Liberty, the Mercury take on two more of the WNBA’s best teams in the Lynx and Las Vegas Aces.
The Mercury are returning home after splitting a two-game series with the Atlanta Dream. Brittney Griner scored 22 points in Friday’s 82-80 win and Diana Taurasi added 18, including two critical baskets in the fourth quarter.
“We’re going to have to win on the road,” Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts said after his team shot 48.5 percent. “It was a good opportunity for us to play the first game and see how we responded and make some adjustments and our group stepped up.”
–Field Level Media