Facebook Twitter
718-639-7000
Facebook Twitter

Liberty open 2026 season on Friday vs Sun

BQE Admin on May 8, 2026

DeMarco earns first win in preseason finale as NY preps for tip-off

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN – The 2026 WNBA season tips off on Friday at the Barclays Center when the New York Liberty host the Connecticut Sun.

New York split their preseason slate, falling to Indiana in Brooklyn before downing the Sun in Connecticut. The latter marked the first WNBA win for Chris DeMarco as he fine tuned his first pro roster.

A number of new faces and old fan favorites decorated New York’s preseason roster. Among them were players like Chinese center Han Xu, Turkish guard Derin Erdogan, and French prospect Pauline Astier.

In their late April game against Indiana, Xu led the Liberty with 20 points in 22 minutes of action. She added a pair of blocks but only managed two rebounds in the preseason loss. 

On Sunday in Connecticut, Jonquel Jones led the team with 15 points. Also scoring in double figures were the recently re-signed Marine Johannes with 12, Anneli Maley with 13 off the bench, and an impressive dozen points for Astier in her first taste of WNBA hoops.

New superstar signing Satou Sabally didn’t dress for either preseason matchup, continuing her conditioning as she prepares to return to play. She is likely to feature on Friday night for her Liberty debut.

This season will be Connecticut’s last year in the Northeast, as the team celebrates their “Sunset Season” ahead of their relocation to Houston in 2027. The Sun will likely take over the “Comets” moniker, reviving the historic WNBA franchise that folded in 2008.

Friday marks the Sun’s last trip to New York in their current capacity. The Liberty will make their final visits to Connecticut on Monday, June 8 and Saturday, August 15.

After the season opener, New York will hit the road for a trio of games. First they visit the Washington Mystics on May 10 before playing a pair of games against the Fire, their first matchups in Portland. The Liberty will return to Brooklyn 

Sabrina sidelined

New York will be without Sabrina Ionescu to start the year. The 6th year Liberty guard injured her ankle in the 3rd quarter of Sunday’s loss but luckily avoided significant injury. Still, Sabrina will be sidelined for at least two weeks before being evaluated again.

Ionescu missed significant time in her early WNBA days with an injury to the same ankle. It’s important for NY to be patient and cautious as last season was an injury-marred one.

Banner at Barclays: Liberty Celebrate 2024 WNBA Title

BQE Admin on May 20, 2025

Cloud scores 22 in debut as New York beats Aces in Season Opener

By Noah Zimmerman

Noah@queensledger.com

The Liberty lifted the first pro basketball championship banner in NYC since the 70’s (Photo: NY Liberty)

A professional basketball championship banner has been lifted in New York City for the first time since the 1970s. On Saturday afternoon the New York Liberty held a banner and ring ceremony in Brooklyn ahead of their season opener against the Las Vegas Aces.

The team received their championship rings, designed by Jason of Beverly Hills in collaboration with local designers from L’Enchanteur. The stunning bling has homages to the franchise’s storied and bittersweet 28-year history as an original WNBA franchise. Some touches include a jeweled design of a leaf sprouting through cracks and a pair of gold Liberty earrings.

The championship rings were designed by Jason of Beverly Hills in collaboration with L’Enchanteur (Photos: NY Liberty)

A design of a leaf sprouting through cracks pays homage to the Liberty’s 28-year quest for a title.

On the floor, the Liberty got set to face the Aces. Two seasons ago it was Las Vegas ending the Liberty’s championship dreams in four games, but last season New York got their revenge in the semifinals en route to their first championship title.

Making a statement in the 2025 opener was new Liberty guard Natasha Cloud. The former Mystic star spent 2024 in Phoenix before being traded to Connecticut and later New York in a dramatic offseason.

Natasha Cloud was dominant in her Liberty debut, scoring 22. (Photo by Brandon Todd)

Cloud was seemingly everywhere on the court, blending in seamlessly on both sides of the game. She picked up 22 points and 9 assists on the offensive end, with 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 6 rebounds on defense.

New York held a 14-point lead at halftime but reigning MVP A’ja Wilson kept Las Vegas in it as they outscored the Liberty 25-16 in the 3rd quarter. Wilson scored 18 of her game-high 31 points in the second half, finishing with a 16-rebound double-double.

2024 Finals MVP Jonquel Jones recorded a double-double of her own with 17 points and 10 rebounds for New York. Breanna Stewart scored 25 on 10/14 shooting and pulled down 8 boards as the Liberty began 2025 with a 92-78 win.

2024 Finals MVP Jonquel Jones stares down 2024 regular season MVP A’ja Wilson on defense. Both finished with double-doubles. (Photo by Brandon Todd)

This week New York hits the road to take on the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever, both ripe with young talent and veteran stars. They’ll play former Liberty guard Courtney Vandersloot, Angel Reese, and the Sky on Thursday night before taking on Caitlyn Clark, Aliyah Boston, and the Fever on Saturday afternoon.

The Liberty return to the Barclays Center after Memorial Day as the Golden State Valkyries make their first trip to New York in their debut WNBA season. They will play a pair of games on Tuesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 29, both at 7pm.

Fill the Form for Events, Advertisement or Business Listing