Rain or shine the New York Liberty fans showed up for the regular season finale game against the Washington Mystics before the playoffs. With it being Fan Appreciation night, those in attendance got treated to a pregame speech by 2023 WNBA MVP Candidate Breanna Stewart.
There were a ton of exciting events prior to the game as Liberty legends Swin Cash, Teresa Weatherspoon hosted the She Got Time Podcast in front of a live audience, the message which is one that had such an inspirational message for all involved and sparked the passion for all to be more involved in the world of sports. In addition, the legends were honored in a halftime ceremony, as all got to see the unveiling of the 2023 Commissioners Cup banner.
With the game being a preview of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs and with having dealt with a ton of adversity throughout the year, the Washington Mystics had themselves on goal that is to win. After what was a 90-88 thriller at the Barclays Center. At the end of the game, it was the chemistry between Brittney Sykes and Natasha Cloud, with literally seconds left in the Fourth Quater that led the Mystics to the victory.
With the Mystics starting to look healthier by the day and with the reset button being set with the start of the Playoffs, the victory for the ladies was one that helped to lift the spirit. The Liberty and Mystics were tied after the first half of the game 50-50, as the Mystics went on a Going on a 21-9 run in the Fourth Quarter.
As time rapidly speed from the scoreboard it was Tash looking for an inbound play to help to lift the team into the playoffs. Cloud found just that in Slim, having one of the best vertical leaping abilities out there.
In what is going to be one of the more memorable moments of the 2023 Season, Cloud inbounded the ball quickly to Slim, having quickly shot the ball with just .5 left getting herself and her team fired up in front of a stunned Barclays Center crowd.
Slim is one of the scoring leaders for the Mystics as she wound up with 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Fans are encouraged to check out the following photo gallery from the game. Photos taken by Stacy Podelski/1495Sports:
To see the thoughts from the New York Liberty Head Coach Sandy Brondello along with Jonquel Jones and Marine Johannès from after the team’s tough loss to the Washington Mystics fans are encouraged to check out the video below…video is compliments of the New York Liberty:
Fans are also encouraged to check out the following video featuring thoughts from Washington Mystics Head Coach Eric Thibault, Natasha Cloud and Brittney Sykes from after the team’s victory against the Liberty…video is compliments of the Washington Mystics:
Fans are also encouraged to check out these pre-game sights from the New York Liberty shootaround session along with the unveiling of the 2023 WNBA Commissioners Cup Banner at the Barclays Center:
The buzzer-beating shot was the first for the Mystics this year, and the first for the franchise since Natasha Cloud won it for the Mystics on August 18, 2018, vs. Los Angeles. In addition, the 20-point performance for Sykes is the first career game in which she’s recorded 20+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 2+ steals.
“We have been through a hell of a regular season,” said Sykes after the game. “I don’t think any of us thought that this was going to happen. We didn’t know what it was going to look like. I’m just really proud of our resilience as a team.”
It is going to be the Liberty and Mystics in the first game of three game matchup on Friday, as these two Franchises start off the 2023 WNBA playoffs. It has been two different stories for these teams, and it is going to be a nailbiter of a series.
“Our fans have been great the entire season being here playing in front of them, having them support us and push us it’s going to be amazing,” said Jonquel Jones after the game. “Anytime we get them involved and engaged in the game of basketball, the right style of basketball it definitely shows, and you can feel it out there.”
The New York Liberty put on one heck of a performance in what was a close game against the Mystics, as the ladies as a unit saw four players in double digit scoring. JJ finished with 19 points on 61.5% (8-13) shooting from the field, nine rebounds, and two assists.
Sabrina Ionescu thrilled the fans with her 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
Marine Johannès continues to show that she is going to be one to watch for with her 11 points on 50%, three assists, and two rebounds off the bench and rounding out the impressive performances is Betnijah Laney with her 13 points.
Up next for both of these teams is the start of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs as the New York Liberty take on the Washington Mystics on Friday, September 15 at the Barclays Center with the start time between the two franchises starting at 7:30 p.m.
New York Liberty News and Notes:
The New York Liberty and the WNBA made some big-time announcements recently as Courtney Vandersloot, has earned the 2023 WNBA Peak Performer Award in assists for the seventh time in her career.
Sloot in her first year with the New York Liberty playing in 39 games, while having an incredible career-high total of 314 assists. Thus far Courtney is helping to lead the Liberty to a league-best and franchise-record 24.1 assists per game, in addition she also set the WNBA single-season team assist record (965) and the all-time WNBA record for team assist percentage (75.0%).
Also, recently the franchise announced that they signed Betnijah Laney, to a multi-year extension through the 2025 season.
For more information on the New York Liberty fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here:
Home – New York Liberty (wnba.com)
For more information on the Washington Mystics fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here:
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