The New York Liberty has been trailing ever since they clinched their first-ever WNBA title last year. In a classic case of complacency, the losing pattern seemed to follow Liberty into the recent preseason match. Despite a powerful and dominating run in the first quarter, the Liberty slowly watched their victory heading towards the Connecticut Sun’s basket during the second and third quarters. Needless to say, the Sun soon snatched the 86-94 victory. With talent like Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Cloud in HC Sandy Brondello’s roster, was this just overconfidence, or is the team in dire need of a miracle?
Talking of miracles on the hardwood, national analyst Rachel DeMita brings a respite to the NY locker room amidst the latest upset. And while the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark revel in their preseason victory, the latest shocker by the analyst comes as a word of caution for the remaining 132 W players. Hinting at the recent developments in the Liberty’s roster and referring to her as the Wizard of basketball, Rachel said, “She is back on the New York Liberty after playing overseas for a season. She’s back on the Liberty and this might change everything for that team. She has already looked so smooth and so efficient in WNBA preseason.”
With none other than Marine Johannes making a comeback with the national team one season later, a lot of things can change for the Liberty. Marine Johannès, who led the WNBA in three-point shooting percentage in 2022 (43.7% among players with 100+ attempts), returns to the New York Liberty to help fill the void left by Betnijah Laney-Hamilton’s injury and Courtney Vandersloot’s departure. Her sharpshooting and playmaking abilities are expected to bolster the Liberty’s five-out offense as they defend their 2024 championship.
And probably this turn-around was exactly what the team was waiting for. The move takes us back to Brondello’s 2023 interview where she said, “You have Marine out there on the floor; she creates something out of nothing.” And rightly so! The talented player is a threat to other pros as she can single-handedly increase the team’s standings on the points table. Now that’s something to worry about!
Putting the other teams in a tough spot, thanks to Johannes’s grand preseason entry, DeMita suggested similarities between Fever’s key player, Caitlin Clark and Marine Johannes. “And if you guys are a fan of Caitlin Clark and her style of play, then you might also want to watch Marine Johannes,” DeMita added. The analyst was quick to compare Johannes talents to Clark and how!
Both dazzle with deep threes and slick passes—Clark set a rookie record with 122 threes and a league-leading 337 assists in 2024, while Johannès’ no-look dimes and 4-for-8 three-point outburst against the Sun echo that flair, though Clark runs the Fever’s offense while Johannès sparks the Liberty’s bench.
Knowing this might upset the Fever star’s fans, DeMita didn’t just stop there. She took up the comparison a notch higher and highlighted the French basketball player’s latest preseason stint in the W.
Showcasing a clip from the team’s recent face-off against the Connecticut Sun, we can witness a dominant Marine taking full possession of the ball before she shoots an impressive four three-pointers in the basket. “She had four threes in this game but just watch how she gets these threes,” Rachel began. “So, a little side dribble to the left, hit it from the corner, and as the announcer says “Welcome back Marine.” What a thunderous welcome on the court!
Indeed a Wizard of basketball, the unstoppable Johannes came off the bench and stormed against the Sun with a score of 12 points by shooting 4-for-8 from three-point range. And if you watched the preseason between Liberty and Sun, you too would exactly know what she’s talking about.
Further highlighting Johannes’ gameplay, DeMita was quick to point out,”She is somebody that is so exciting to watch! She is so much fun to watch and it’s not even just that. Like, she can take it to the basket, she does the flashy passes as well.” And while the analyst tries to draw parallels between Clark and Marine, does this come as a warning for the existing 132 players in the W?
While Marine delivered a standout performance against the Sun with her quick shot releases and one-leg off-balance shot techniques, and brings these unique skills of her gameplay on the hardwood, does she carry the same caliber as her Fever counterpart? Or are the comparisons baseless and completely off the hook? Well, that remains to be seen. But with an impressive return on the Liberty’s roster, Marine has surely ignited a ray of hope for HC Sandy Brondello and her teammates ahead of their first regular season against the Los Angles Aces on May 17.
Caitlin Clark’s unmatched preseason performance
Though Clark had a tough time adjusting to the W during her rookie season, she found support in her now-HC, Stephanie White. Despite her tryst with flagrant fouls and massive turnovers, White defended Clark from anyone who was quick to call out the Fever superstar! After all, she was still getting used to the ropes.
Apr 30, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark poses for a photo Wednesday, April 30, 2025, during the Indiana Fever media day at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
But as the season progressed, so did Clark’s gameplay. Her impressive run in the Fever so far is nothing short of celebratory. Take her latest preseason stint for example. With a successful return on the Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Clark, outshone Sophie Cunningham, DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, and Aliyah Boston. Making a 36 foot three-pointer in the third quarter, she led the team towards a roaring 108-44 win against the Brazil National team.
And while the HC praised her performance in Iowa, the team faced massive half-turnovers in their last preseason. Despite a few red flags like technical faults, Clark managed a splendid 13 points as the team managed an impressive 81-76 victory against Atlanta Dream on Saturday.
With a significant improvement in her sophomore year in the WNBA with enhanced communication and a more refined game, Clark has nothing to worry about. As Indiana Fever and Clark revel in their three preseason victories, HC Stephanie expects a better gameplay from the team and a flawless performance from the key player ahead of the regular season.
The post Trouble Beyond Caitlin Clark for 132 WNBA Players After National Analyst’s Strong Warning Around NY Liberty Locker Room appeared first on EssentiallySports.