Rooting for Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty is something New York Knicks fans and Brooklyn Nets fans can actually agree upon, especially right now during the WNBA playoffs. The Liberty took a 1-0 lead over the Mystics on Friday and could end the series with another win Tuesday.
New York posted a 32-8 record in the regular season, the second-best in the league and the best in franchise history. Jonathan Kolb was named 2023 WNBA Executive of the Year, the first time someone in the Liberty organization has won the award.
Breanna Stewart’s first full season with the Liberty could result in her second MVP title and her third WNBA championship after she won two with the Storm.
It may be the dead part of the NBA offseason, but basketball fans in New York have been spoiled by watching the Liberty up close.
If New York advances past Washington, the team will meet with Connecticut or Minnesota in the semifinals, a best-of-five series. WNBA fans are crossing their fingers for a Liberty-Aces Finals matchup, which is what will happen if New York makes it beyond the second round.
Given the success and hype surrounding the Liberty, it isn’t surprising that Ionescu said her team is playing the best basketball the city has seen in a long time.
"We'll be able to shut up those people on Twitter that have anything to say about what's been going on with New York sports. As far as I'm concerned, we've been playing the best basketball that's been played in New York City for a very long time."
— New York Liberty Videos (@SNYLiberty) September 15, 2023
- Sabrina Ionescu pic.twitter.com/FkloaJ93yX
Knicks fans shouldn’t be bothered by Sabrina Ionescu’s NYC basketball claim
Let’s reverse roles for a minute. If it had been Jalen Brunson who said what Sabrina Ionescu did, Knicks fans would’ve held onto every word. Some fans wouldn’t have even thought about the Liberty, whether that be because they don’t follow the WNBA or don’t care to do so.
Ionescu’s comments shouldn’t be viewed as a dig at the Knicks or Nets. The Knicks are coming off their first second-round postseason appearance in a decade, and the Liberty making it to the Finals would roughly be the equivalent of that. Remember that the WNBA playoffs have three rounds versus the NBA’s four.
The Nets should’ve played the best basketball the city had seen in a while with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, except that “dynasty” went up in smoke.
The Liberty have already made history this season, and fans hope the team will make their fifth WNBA Finals appearance. New York has a 0-4 record in the Finals and could electrify the city with its first championship. Even the Knicks and Nets fans who don’t follow the WNBA closely should want to see that.
Basketball is basketball, and the Liberty are playing at a high level. Why shouldn’t the entire city celebrate that?
The truth is the WNBA is growing, and if the Liberty haven’t gotten your attention yet, do yourself a favor and tune into the playoffs. If you’re lucky, Sabrina Ionescu, who hit seven threes in Game 1, will put on another show in Game 2. Chances are, she’ll do just that.