Liberty Opens Season 3-1 Despite Missing Multiple Key Players

The team opened its season with a 3-1 record even while missing multiple starters including the primary point guard who is recovering from a left foot injury suffered in the final preseason game. The point guard is scheduled to be reevaluated early next week. Two other players remained unavailable because of a cyst and participation in the Spanish League championship.

The team defeated the Connecticut Sun in its home opener, secured an overtime victory against the Washington Mystics, and split two road games in Portland. Coach stated that the early results confirmed the depth observed during training camp. “We have a ton of depth and when we are whole, there’s gonna be a lot of decisions that we have to make and a lot of minutes out there for people to compete for,” the coach told the outlet after Thursday’s 100-82 victory.

The rookie French guard has performed strongly in the first four games while filling the starting role. She averaged 16.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, four assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 62.5 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from three-point range. The coach said of the rookie, “She’s a phenomenal player.

She’s so steady and she really takes what the game gives her. ” Another guard posted career-high marks with 25 points in one game and 11 assists in the most recent contest. Bench contributors have also delivered consistent production, including a forward who scored 12 points in her first appearance after signing a developmental contract hours earlier.

The coach added, “We have a lot of talent but we also have a lot of thinkers. ” The team has shown areas needing improvement. It has committed too many turnovers at times, which has affected defensive performance, and ranks below average in rebounding.

A key frontcourt player described a recent loss as a learning experience and said the group is addressing early problems. "[Tuesday’s loss was] a good learning experience for us. We’re fixing a lot of the things that we are seeing as early problems and I think that’s all you can really ask of a team so early in a season," the frontcourt player said.