
Leonie Fiebich did exactly what Liberty needed — and then some — in win
WASHINGTON — Leonie Fiebich is a not-so-secret stabilizer for the Liberty.
She never gets too high or too low. She doesn't always put up the flashiest numbers.
Her defensive efforts can go unappreciated by the average eye.
But not to her teammates.
She can score, but she knows her role on a team loaded with offensive firepower.
In Friday's 85-63 win, though, with the Liberty gassed from playing a game the night before, Fiebich came in and did exactly what the Liberty needed from her.
3 Leonie Fiebich looks to make a move during the Liberty's 85-63 blowout road win over the Mystics on May 30, 2025.
NBAE via Getty Images
Fiebich played her best game of the season.
She scored 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting (2-for-3 from deep) and contributed nine rebounds, three blocks and an assist.
3 Leonie Fiebich goes up for a layup during the Liberty's blowout road victory over the Mystics.
NBAE via Getty Images
It was the type of showing coach Sandy Brondello has come to expect from her German forward.
'Every day, you know what you're going to get day-in and day-out,' Brondello said of Fiebich. 'We appreciate that. She loves defense; she's so versatile. But you can see that. She was shooting 3s. She was cutting. She was posting out. So it was great for us.'
Jonquel Jones called Fiebich a defensive anchor of the team. She can guard the opposing team's best guards or wings, using her length and athleticism to shut them down.
'She's someone that we're not worried about that matchup,' Jones said. 'We understand that she can go out there and just be really productive in that sense, but it's something that maybe other people overlook but we don't overlook it on our team. We understand how valuable she is to us.'
Backup center Nyara Sabally remains sidelined with a right knee issue.
Friday marked the fourth game Sabally missed this week after discomfort flared up in her surgically repaired knee while warming up for the Liberty's game at Indiana.
Brondello has said Sabally is 'fine' and has expressed caution with not wanting to rush Sabally back to the floor before she's ready.
3 Nyara Sabally during a game last season.
Michelle Farsi/New York Post
'Hopefully, she's back by Sunday,' Brondello said pregame. 'She's making progress but we want to make sure she's feeling 100 percent.'
Sabally did an individual workout Thursday and has been shooting, Brondello said.
But concern surrounding Sabally's knee continues to grow the longer she remains out.
Jones recorded her fourth double-double of the season Friday and 26th since joining the Liberty before the 2023 season.
Jones grabbed 18 rebounds, her most in a regular-season game since 2019. She also scored 14 points.
The Liberty have yet to lose when Jones posts a double-double.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Sun sunk by Liberty, who match their WNBA record with 19 3-pointers
Tina Charles and Jacy Sheldon led Connecticut (1-6) with 10 points each. The margin of victory was the second largest in league history, falling short of the 59-point record held by Minnesota in a win over Indiana in 2017. The franchise's previous mark for biggest win was a 43-point victory over Washington in 1998. New York also hit 19 3-pointers against Chicago on May 22 to break the previous league record. The Liberty almost topped that mark through three quarters as they hit 18 3s in the first 30 minutes, but they went cold in the fourth from the outside, only making one. The Liberty finished a busy week by winning their fourth game in six days. They now have a bit of a break now with their next game in Washington on Thursday. Advertisement Sunday's matchup was the first game of the three-week long Commissioner's Cup in-season tournament. New York made the final last year before losing to Minnesota. The Liberty got their revenge by winning the WNBA championship. New York took it right at Connecticut, building a 31-13 lead after one quarter as Stewart, Ionescu, Fiebich, and Jones combined to score all the points. The Liberty kept it rolling in the second quarter, extending the advantage to 60-28 at the half. New York shot 68 percent from the field in the first half, including making 12 3-pointers. Advertisement The Liberty didn't let up in the third quarter, outscoring the Sun, 30-8. Even up 50 points, New York challenged a foul committed by Ionescu on a 3-point shot by Marina Mabrey. New York won the challenge and the star guard ran out on the court in excitement then high-fived the Liberty staff for challenging the call.


New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Liberty torch Sun for record 48-point blowout to tie best start in franchise history
We've got you covered on the Liberty beat Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA. tRY IT NOW The Liberty opened Commissioner Cup play Sunday torching the Sun, 100-52, for the biggest win in franchise history. Ten days after setting the WNBA record for most 3s made in a game, the Liberty matched it again. 'One more 3' chants broke out with less than two minutes to go after the Liberty drained their record-tying 19 3-pointers earlier in the fourth. But that final trey never came. The Liberty were led by Sabrina Ionescu's four 3-pointers and 18 points. Ten of the 11 Liberty players who attempted a 3 made at least one from behind the arc and five players sank multiple as they finished a staggering 19-for-32 or 59.4 percent. 4 Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu react during the Liberty's win against the Sun on June 1. Michelle Farsi for the NY Post Also, Ionescu is now one 3 away from tying Crystal Robinson for most career 3s in franchise history. It's one thing to beat a team mightily, which the Liberty have already done a few times this season. It's another to totally crush a team's spirit and leave them lifeless. 4 Natasha Cloud celebrates during the Liberty's win against the Sun on June 1. Michelle Farsi for the NY Post 4 Sabrina Ionescu looks to move the ball during the Liberty's win against the Sun on June 1. Michelle Farsi for the NY Post Sunday was a show of dominance that's never been seen before. New York ran Connecticut out of the gym in the first half and never let up. The Liberty opened the game going 7-for-9 from deep and made 12 3s by halftime. 4 Sabrina Ionescu reacts after hitting a shot during the Liberty's win against the Sun on June 1. Michelle Farsi for the NY Post Their 32-point halftime lead was the franchise's second largest lead entering the third quarter ever. In the third quarter, the Liberty outscored the Sun 30-8. Sunday's 48-point margin of victory was the largest in franchise history. The Liberty's previous biggest win was when they beat the Mystics by 43 points on Aug. 13, 1998. With the win, the Liberty's 7-0 start ties the 1997 team for the best start to a season in franchise history. Sunday completed a grueling stretch for the Liberty, who played four games in six days. They'll get a few days of rest before returning to Washington D.C. Thursday to play the Mystics.

NBC Sports
3 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Liberty hit 19 3-pointers in 100-52 rout of Sun to start season 7-0 for first time since 1997
NEW YORK — The New York Liberty matched their own WNBA record by hitting 19 3-pointers in a 100-52 rout of the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. The victory was the largest in franchise history, eclipsing a 43-point win over Washington in 1998. New York fell short of the all-time scoring margin record of 59 points held by Minnesota in a victory over Indiana in 2017. Sabrina Ionescu led New York with 18 points while Jonquel Jones added 13 points and 11 rebounds. Breanna Stewart and Leonie Fiebich also had 13 points. All four sat out for nearly the entire fourth quarter. Still, New York improved to 7-0 for the first time since the 1997 season. New York also hit 19 3-pointers against Chicago on May 22 to break the previous league record. The Liberty almost eclipsed that mark through three quarters as they hit 18 3s in the first 30 minutes, but they went cold in the fourth from the outside, only making one. The Liberty finished off a busy week by winning their fourth game in six days. They now have a bit of a break now with their next game in Washington on Thursday. Sunday's matchup was the first game of the three-week long Commissioner's Cup in-season tournament. New York made the final last year before losing to Minnesota. The Liberty got their revenge by winning the WNBA championship. New York took it right at Connecticut, building a 31-13 lead after one quarter as Stewart, Ionescu, Fiebich and Jones combined to score all the points. The Liberty kept it rolling in the second quarter extending the advantage to 60-28 at the half. New York shot 68% from the field in the first half, including making 12 3-pointers. The Liberty didn't let up in the third quarter and the points kept going on the scoreboard. Even up 50 points, New York challenged a foul committed by Ionescu on a 3-point shot by Marina Mabrey. New York won the challenge and the star guard ran out on the court in excitement then high-fived the Liberty staff for challenging the call. Tina Charles and Jacy Sheldon led Connecticut (1-6) with 10 points each.