Natasha

Cloud

The majority of Stewart’s field goals were assisted by Sabrina Ionescu, who found Stewart for all three of her shots on drives right at the rim, a spot on the floor where Stewart is almost unguardable. While she didn’t score as many points as Natasha Cloud, Stewart’s impact on both ends couldn’t be fully captured by how she stuffed the stat sheet. Stewart came up in the clutch for the Liberty especially when the team struggled to score in the fourth quarter. She made a tough hook shot over Satou Sabally to tie the game at 65 with 1:31 left in regulation prior to the game’s overtime period. Stewart scored an empathetic and-one on a drive to the basket following a pass from Ionescu with 3:01 left in overtime. Following the score, Stewart fell to the ground in a lot of pain, injuring her left knee, the opposite knee of her bone bruise from the regular season that kept her out for a month. Stewart left the game after attempting a free throw, and there wasn’t an update on her status following the game.

Cloud carried the Liberty at moments during Game 1 of the first round of the WNBA playoffs in Phoenix against the Mercury. Cloud was incredibly efficient, shooting 75 percent, her most efficient outing in addition to the most field goals she’s made in a Liberty uniform. Cloud did an excellent job of balancing when to take the open three-pointers that the Mercury defense left open in addition to when she needed to get downhill and put pressure on the rim. Cloud also contributed five assists, with her most important one that came in overtime with a bit over a minute left. She drove and got to right outside of the paint, and as a result was swarmed by two Mercury defenders. Cloud used her pivot foot to get out of the traffic and passed the ball to wing Leonie Fiebich who was left open on the right wing. Fiebich hit the open three-pointer to give the Liberty a seven point lead with under a minute left in overtime.

Meesseman provided a scoring punch for the Liberty off the bench spacing the floor well from beyond the arc while cutting at all the right moments inside of the arc. She hit one three-pointer on a drive and kick from Natasha Cloud and scored at the rim off a couple of well placed passes by point forward Breanna Stewart. Meesseman finished the regular season shooting a career-high 57.2% from the field which is an impressive feat after she came to the Liberty mid-way through the season and had to learn a completely new playbook with limited practice time. On Thursday night Meesseman rebounded and facilitated the ball at a high level. She and Stewart led the Liberty with six rebounds a piece while Meesseman found three different teammates in Cloud, Sabrina Ionescu and Leonie Fiebich all on back-cuts and scores to the basket.

While Ionescu was not under an official minutes restriction for Tuesday’s game, her 27 minutes were nearly five fewer than her season average (31.7). While the Liberty guard did not offer much in the way of scoring, missing both of her three-point attempts, she was effective as a playmaker for others. Ionescu finished with nine assists and two turnovers, with the former tally matching her total in New York’s August 25 win over the Sun. While Rebekah Gardner (three points and one three-pointer in 15 minutes) remained in the rotation, Marine Johannès only played the final two minutes. The minutes distribution behind starting guards Ionescu and Natasha Cloud (11/1/5 with one three-pointer) will be something to watch when the Liberty open postseason play on Sunday.

Fiebich matched her own personal records in scoring and three-pointers. It was the first time she she scored over 20 points in addition to racking up five rebounds in her WNBA career. When the Liberty’s offense was struggling to put the ball in the hoop in the first half, Fiebich rose to the challenge and knocked down a bunch of wide open threes in addition to taking slower front court players off the dribble. Shooting 60% from the field on Friday night, Fiebich had her most efficient night scoring the basketball since August 21 when she also shot 60% from the field against the Sky. All of but one of Fiebich’s field goals were assisted as Emma Meesseman, Natasha Cloud and Breanna Stewart all found her for her four shots on the perimeter.

Cloud had a very balanced performance against the Valkyries on Tuesday. She was one of only a few Liberty players to score efficiently, with her production from beyond the arc helping lead her to finish as one of New York’s top two scorers. Cloud also concluded as one of her team’s most productive passers and was the only team member to secure multiple three-point makes. She has now scored in double figures in nine of the last 11 games and will have a chance to produce another strong scoring outing against the Storm on Friday.

While Sabally will go through pregame warmups and dress for Tuesday’s contest, she will not play against Golden State. The reserve center has not played since July 16 against the Fever, leaving her on track to miss her 20th consecutive game. The Liberty will also be without Sabrina Ionescu on Tuesday (toe), but has recently seen Breanna Stewart and Natasha Cloud return after missing time due to injuries. New York holds a 2.5-game lead in the standings over Golden State, which is the current sixth seed.

Back in the Liberty lineup after missing two games with a nose injury, Cloud shot the ball well Saturday night. However, the overall impact was muted, as New York played without the injured Sabrina Ionescu (toe) again. Cloud played 31 minutes on Saturday, two more than her season average, with the playing time likely impacted by Ionescu’s absence. Marine Johannès, who started for Cloud on Thursday, played 15 minutes against Phoenix, finishing with four points and one blocked shot. New York continues its road trip on Tuesday against the Valkyries.

Cloud and Jones are back from injury, giving the Liberty a welcome boost. However, Sabrina Ionescu is out for the second straight game with a toe injury, resulting in Meesseman remaining with the starters. With Cloud and Jones available, Marine Johannès and Kennedy Burke head to the bench.

Cloud is back in the Liberty lineup after missing two games with a nose injury. The veteran guard will play with a protective mask, but she’ll give New York a welcome boost on both ends of the floor. Marine Johannès could remain in the starting lineup Saturday night, as the Liberty will be without Sabrina Ionescu.