What Is Wrong with the Liberty?
The New York Liberty were stunned by the 5–21 Connecticut Sun on Friday, dropping their fourth straight game. A team once seen as a frontrunner for the WNBA title now finds itself searching for answers at a crucial point in the season. While the Liberty remain a playoff contender, their recent slide is raising eyebrows and questions across the league. Is it injuries, inconsistent shooting, or simply uneven effort that’s holding the team back? With the postseason quickly approaching, the New York Liberty need to resolve their growing list of issues — and fast.
Injuries have played a significant role in the Liberty’s recent woes. The absence of key players like Breanna Stewart, Nyara Sabally, and Kennedy Burke has disrupted the team’s defensive structure and offensive flow. In addition to those injuries, Jonquel Jones missed an extensive period with an ankle injury. Without their usual lineup, the Liberty have struggled to maintain the defensive intensity that made them tough to beat earlier this season. On the offensive end, inconsistent shooting, poor ball movement, and turnovers have contributed to stagnant possessions and missed scoring opportunities. These factors combined have left the team searching for answers as their usual strategies fail to produce the desired results.
Beyond injuries and shooting woes, the Liberty’s recent struggles also highlight questions about team chemistry and what their current mentality is. The constant lineup changes have made it difficult to gain consistency. This inconsistency can lead to hesitation, missed assignments, and a lack of urgency when it matters most. How the Liberty responds mentally to this adversity could prove just as important as their physical recovery. The talent is there, but changes need to be made to get back into championship form.
The good news for the Liberty is that there’s still time to turn things around before the playoffs. The recent signing of former Finals MVP Emma Meesseman adds much-needed experience and versatility to the roster, but integrating new pieces will take time. Coach Sandy Brondello faces the challenge of stabilizing the rotation and reigniting the team’s competitive fire. With a critical stretch of games ahead, every matchup will be an opportunity to prove the Liberty are more than just a team in a slump. The question now is whether New York can find the resilience to regroup — or if this rough patch signals deeper issues that could derail their championship hopes.