In a surprising turn of events, the Connecticut Sun triumphed against the New York Liberty for the first time this year. They secured a thrilling victory in Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals. While the Liberty came into this game as favorites, their performance was far from satisfactory.

Nonetheless, in light of Connecticut Sun’s performance in the opening game, can Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart lead the New York Liberty to an incredible comeback?

Can Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart turn things around?

The Liberty faced a similar setback in the final game of the regular season. Losing against the Washington Mystics, Sabrina Ionescu and the team came prepared to fight whatever came their way. Their incredible performance was evident with how they bounced back and took control in the first round of the Playoffs.

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While the Liberty were on a Warriors-like form this season, they fell only behind the number-1 seeded Las Vegas Aces. Their incredible form continued against the Washington Mystics. However, they fell short in Game 1 against the Sun. At halftime, they had a slender 3-point lead, but struggled in the third quarter, losing 63-78 at the final whistle.

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The most impressive aspect of the Sun’s performance was their ability to shut down the Liberty’s star players, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. They limited the All-Star duo to a combined 31 points on 39 shots. Stewart, who shot a disappointing 7/25, had rarely seen such struggles in her career.

Entering the Semi-Finals, the Liberty side was motivated to carry their incredible offensive form through the Finals. However, from here on, every game is a must-win game for them. If they lose the next game, Sabrina and Breanna’s incredible run will end with that.

Despite their recent loss to the Sun, the Liberty is still optimistic, especially considering their outstanding form this season. The All-Star pair will surely want to turn things around as they are essential to the team’s success.

The Connecticut Sun’s dominance in defense

The Sun’s defense hindered the Liberty’s offensive efforts. A defense that Ionescu and Stewart had no answer to break through. The Connecticut Sun’s superior defense was a major factor in their triumph in Game 1. The Sun, who were well-known for their outstanding defense during the regular season, maintained their dominance in this area. They intimidated opponents with their length and physicality, caused turnovers at a league-best rate, and were outstanding on the boards under the direction of Alyssa Thomas, the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year.

The Sun’s aggressive defense surprised the Liberty, who had previously defeated them in all four regular-season meetings. Their home-court advantage was taken away, and they found themselves down in the series.

Areas that the New York Liberty has to work on

While the Sun’s ability to neutralize Stewart and Ionescu was impressive, their defensive prowess extended beyond just the star duo. The entire Liberty team had a challenging time on the court, except for Jonquel Jones, who found success in the paint when given the opportunity.

This game highlighted the Sun’s effective game plan to defeat the Liberty. A blueprint that may continue to be effective as the series progresses. During the next game on Tuesday, both Ionescu and Stewart will have to take charge and implement effective strategies to break Sun’s defense. While the Liberty will make adjustments and likely shoot better in the upcoming games, the Sun’s tenacious defense has set a precedent for how to challenge this formidable opponent.

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