Liberty Aim to Stay Undefeated Against Struggling Sun in Commissioner’s Cup

Brooklyn, New York – The New York Liberty, fresh off a franchise-best 6-0 start, will host the Connecticut Sun on Sunday afternoon. This marks the first game of the Commissioner’s Cup for both teams.

The Liberty reached the finals of the in-season tournament last season, losing to the Minnesota Lynx, but later defeated the Lynx 3-2 in the 2024 WNBA Finals.

Currently, New York is one of two undefeated teams remaining in the league, averaging 90.5 points per game while allowing just 74.5 points. Breanna Stewart leads the Liberty with 19.0 points per game, ranked eighth in the league, while teammate Jonquel Jones ranks second in the WNBA with 11.4 rebounds per game.

In their last outing, the Liberty defeated the Washington Mystics 85-63, limiting the Mystics to just 28 percent shooting in the second half. Jones recorded her 26th double-double of her Liberty career during the game. “You see the impact she has. JJ, with the 18 boards tonight. She’s such a key part,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello commented.

The Sun, who have struggled this season with a 1-5 record, celebrated their first win under coach Rachid Meziane on Friday night, edging the Indiana Fever 85-83. Meziane received a celebratory game ball and a water bottle shower from his team.

Despite the victory, concerns surround the franchise with discussions of a potential sale or relocation, and the loss of key players from last year’s playoff roster. Veteran Tina Charles paces the Sun with an average of 17.2 points per game, while Marina Mabrey is contributing 16.2 per contest.

<p"I think we have a team that doesn’t have a lot of experience, and we just came together with a new coach. There’s going to be some growing pains," Mabrey said after scoring a season-high 26 points against the Fever.

With their recent win, the Sun became only the second franchise in WNBA history to reach 500 wins, joining the Los Angeles Sparks, with a record of 440 wins in Connecticut and 60 as the Orlando Miracle.

Last season, the Liberty won three of their four matchups against the Sun. With both teams eager for a strong performance, the game promises to be an exciting matchup.