NFL
The New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx have been rivals for several years.
The biggest battles between the two clubs took place during a controversial WNBA Finals, when New York downed Minnesota in five games.
At full strength, the Lynx have two MVP candidates and plenty of depth.
Olivia Miles has already become one of the league’s best players. Napheesa Collier is still rounding back into form, but at full strength, she remains an elite two-way force.
Defensively, the Liberty will undoubtedly have their work cut out for them. They’ll need to be active in the passing lanes and suffocate the perimeter.
They’re also going to need to be just as effective on offense. The Liberty can’t defer to Breanna Stewart. They’ll need to move off the ball, keep opposing defenses in rotation, and exploit mismatches.
Who Can Step Up for the Liberty?
Sabrina Ionescu looked far from her best before the WNBA paused for the World Cup.
Ionescu tends to launch deep shots from across the Brooklyn Bridge whenever she gets cold.
Ionescu is at her best when she makes a concerted effort to attack downhill, pressure the rim, and break down defenses.
Her deep 3-point shooting is a plus, especially in clutch situations, but to beat Minnesota’s defense, she’ll need to be more aggressive.
By default, Stewart will likely have a lot of hero ball possessions and be forced to take the initiative. Still, her supporting cast better have their shooting pockets empty when Stewie eventually kicks it out.
For the Liberty to pull off this upset win, they’ll need Ionescu to be the best version of herself and really lock in on defense.
