The defending champs have picked up right where they left off. The New York Liberty kicked off their title defense in style—raising their championship banner and getting their rings in front of a buzzing crowd of 17,344 at the Barclays Center. But once the celebrations were over, it was all business. Four games in, and they’re still unbeaten. After taking care of business against the Golden State Valkyries, the Liberty are gearing up for another matchup against the league’s newest squad. They’ll be back on their home court on May 29 at 7 p.m. ET–ready to keep the momentum rolling.
This game’s a clash of two teams at different points in their journey. The Liberty are the gold standard, with a championship core that’s clicking on all cylinders. Meanwhile, the Valkyries, the WNBA’s newest kids on the block, are scrappy underdogs trying to carve out their place in a tough league.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know before tip-off! From the injury report to who might be playing tonight to try and predict the outcome of the game! Plenty to unpack ahead of tip-off, so let’s get into it!
New York Liberty vs Golden State Valkyries: Injury report
The only potential absence for the New York Liberty is Nyara Sabally. The big missed Tuesday night’s 92-67 blowout win over the Valkyries at Barclays Center, sitting out with a right knee injury. That’s now two straight games on the sidelines for Sabally, who started feeling discomfort during warmups ahead of last Saturday’s win in Indiana. Coach Sandy Brondello remains optimistic that the center could be back later this week but the Valkyries game might be too soon for her.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – MARCH 28: Nyara Sabally #1 of the Oregon Ducks reacts in the first half against the Louisville Cardinals during the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Alamodome on March 28, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
But just hours before tip-off, the Liberty were hit with some unexpected and unwelcome news! Last year’s Finals MVP Jonquel Jones is now listed as questionable for tonight’s game. That’s a big concern for New York.
If Sabally and Jones are both out, the Liberty might feel the pinch in the paint. Coach Brondello could turn to rookie Leonie Fiebich’s versatility or give more minutes to Kayla Thornton off the bench to fill the gaps. The Liberty’s depth is a strength, but losing two key bigs could test their frontcourt.
Meanwhile, Coach Nakase and the Valkyries just can’t catch a break. Things just keep piling up for Coach Nakase and the Valkyries. Already short on depth, the injury list is only getting longer. Cecilia Zandalasini is officially out with a foot injury–that’s a big blow. And it doesn’t stop there. Tiffany Hayes is dealing with a nose issue, and Monique Billings has a foot injury. Both are being monitored and will be game-time decisions.
For the Valkyries, these injuries are a real gut punch. With a thin roster, they might need to lean on lesser-known players to step up. Coach Nakase will have to get creative with her rotations to keep this young team competitive against a stacked Liberty squad.
Predicted starting 5
New York Liberty
Natasha Cloud
Sabrina Ionescu
Leonie Fiebich
Breanna Stewart
Jonquel Jones
Golden State Valkyries
Veronica Burton
Kayla Thornton
Janelle Salaun
Stephanie Talbot
Temi Fagbenle
Prediction: Can the Valkyries pull off an upset against the Liberty?
The Barclays Center is gonna be rocking tonight. With over 17,000 fans cheering on one of the league’s top squads, the Liberty feed off that energy. For the Valkyries, it’s a chance to show they belong on this stage.
The last time these two teams met, it was a rough night for the Golden State Valkyries. The Liberty were in complete control, cruising to a 95-67 win. It was a statement victory. The Liberty locked in defensively and completely shut down the expansion team, especially in the fourth quarter, where they outscored them by 12 to seal a dominant 28-point victory at home.
According to the latest odds from DraftKings, the Liberty are heavy favorites heading into game once again–by 18 points, no less. That’s a big number, especially considering Golden State actually has one of the top five defenses in the league. But they are favorites for a reason.
Golden State may be holding strong on defense –ranking fifth in defensive rating but their offense has been struggling hard, sitting at the bottom of the league with a rating of just 87.7. They’re missing that go-to scorer, and that’s going to be a big problem against a powerhouse like the Liberty.
New York boasts four All-Stars in Breanna Stewart, Natasha Cloud, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu. And to make matters worse for Golden State– the Liberty are leading the league not just in offense but also in effective field goal percentage and defense. So it won’t be a surprise to anyone if New York extend their unbeaten run to 5-0 tonight.
The post New York Liberty vs Golden State Valkyries: Injury Report, Starting-5, Predictions, and More appeared first on EssentiallySports.