logo
Brianna Stewart Names Liberty's Weak Link Without Hesitation

Brianna Stewart Names Liberty's Weak Link Without Hesitation

Yahooa day ago

Brianna Stewart Names Liberty's Weak Link Without Hesitation originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
With a record now of 9-0 following a drubbing of the Chicago Sky in Brooklyn on Tuesday, the defending-champion Liberty appear to be a team without flaws. The final was 85-66, but the reality was that New York never trailed in the game and held a lead that swelled to as much as 34 points.
Advertisement
New York joined the Lynx with a nine-game winning streak to start the year, and in the early going of this WNBA season, it certainly appears as though there are two teams, followed by everyone else. And even within that pairing, the Liberty look like the better team, with only two games (at home vs. the Valkyries and on the road in Indiana) that qualify as close.
The Lynx's average margin of victory is an impressive 10.7 points. The Liberty, though? It's 19.8 points.
But after the game against the Sky, star forward Breanna Stewart was asked by ESPN's Scott Van Pelt whether New York had any weaknesses--a fair question, considering what a wrecking ball the team has been thus far.
Breanna Stewart, Liberty© Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
As Van Pelt put it, "You guys are kind of a machine right now, it seems to me."
Advertisement
Stewart shot right back. "Just our rebounding," she said. "Defensive rebounding, we always know we can do better at. Chicago beat us on the boards tonight. And we've got to just continue to keep stepping up without (Jonquel Jones)."
Jones missed Tuesday's game with an ankle injury.
The Sky did outrebound New York, 37-29, and the Liberty gave up 10 offensive rebounds. Heading into Tuesday's game, though, the Liberty were fifth in the WNBA with 36.5 rebounds per game.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Fans Are Worried After Reported Seattle Storm News
Fans Are Worried After Reported Seattle Storm News

Yahoo

time22 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Fans Are Worried After Reported Seattle Storm News

Fans Are Worried After Reported Seattle Storm News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Currently holding a 4–4 record, the Seattle Storm has experienced both impressive victories and disappointing losses so far during their 2025 season. Their star point guard, Skylar Diggins, leads the team with an average of 16.8 points and 6.4 assists per game, while Nneka Ogwumike contributes around nine rebounds per game. Their recent 83–77 victory over the Dallas Wings snapped a three-game losing streak on Tuesday. Advertisement But off the court, the Storm have faced challenges. It was announced on Wednesday morning by sports journalist Khristina Williams that there is currently an investigation being launched into the Storm's coaching staff by the WNBA and league security. Williams provided no additional information about the case, which caused confusion and suspicions from fans. "why kind of investigation?" a fan asked on X. "that's very broad." An X user wrote, "Will like to read the details on this." "For what?" another wrote. "This post is so vague." Advertisement "Excuse me?????," an X user posted. "AND league security?!?" someone commented. "Dang." "Jewel tried to tell everybody," one fan wrote. Jewell Loyd, who now plays for the Las Vegas Aces but originally played for the Storm for 10 seasons, filed a complaint against Noelle Quinn and the coaching staff back in November 2024. An investigation was conducted, but it concluded without finding any violations. Lloyd requested a trade hours after the conclusion was announced. Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) shoots a foul shot against the Washington Mystics in the second quarter of the game at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images The news of the investigation was released hours after Chinese basketball player Li Yueru requested a trade. Many are wondering if her requesting a trade has anything to do with the investigation. Advertisement "Can we get an update?" a user asked Williams, who has not posted on X for the past hour. "Does this have to do with the recent trade request????" "Li said 'I don't want no part in this. Get me outta hereeee,'" a WNBA fan account joked. Another joked, "WNBA don't overreact to a trade request challenge: impossible." "Where there's constant smoke 💨…." someone speculated. Atlanta Dream center Brittney Griner (42) and Seattle Storm center Li Yueru (28).John Froschauer-Imagn Images Seattle or the WNBA has yet to comment on the ongoing investigation, and additional details have not been released. The Storm is set to play against the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday. Advertisement Related: Indiana Fever Responds to WNBA Investigation Involving Angel Reese This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.

Caitlin Clark's Former Teammate in Tears After WNBA Game
Caitlin Clark's Former Teammate in Tears After WNBA Game

Yahoo

time22 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Caitlin Clark's Former Teammate in Tears After WNBA Game

Caitlin Clark's Former Teammate in Tears After WNBA Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Seattle Storm defeated the Minnesota Lynx at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle with a final score of 94-84. The Lynx were undefeated so far during the 2025 WNBA season until Wednesday evening. Advertisement Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while guard Erica Wheeler added 20 points and nine assists. Gabby Williams filled the stat sheet with 12 points, eight boards, seven assists and four steals. Despite a strong night from Lynx's star player Napheesa Collier, who finished with 25 points and nine rebounds, Minnesota couldn't overcome second-half turnovers and defensive lapses. A late push from the Storm's veterans sealed the win and snapped the Lynx's 9–0 start. Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally drives around Seattle Storm forward Ezi Magbegor and guard Erica Scuteri-Imagn Images Wheeler had a phenomenal performance on Wednesday night, a reminder of the veteran poise she once brought to the court alongside Caitlin Clark with the Indiana Fever. She initially played for Indiana from 2016-2019, and then returned for another two seasons in 2023 and 2024. Advertisement After the game, Wheeler became emotional during her postgame interview that was broadcast in the arena, tearing up as she reflected on the team's effort and what the win meant to her. Before the guard spoke, cameras caught her using her jersey to wipe her tears away before speaking into the microphone. "You guys are amazing," Wheeler said to the crowd. "What, today is Wednesday? You guys got off work to come see us? That's hard. That's dedication. That's love. And that's what I've been feeling since I've been here. That's why I'm emotional." According to ESPN, the Rutgers alum has been a steady contributor for the Storm so far this season, averaging 9.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 0.6 steals over 21.9 minutes in nine games, shooting 49.3% from the field and 42.1% from three, with an 87.5% free‑throw rate. Advertisement Wheeler also gave a huge shoutout to her team and the coaches after the Storm's win. "It's not about me. It's about the team," Wheeler said. "It's about us sticking together, coaches believing in us and this (explicit) feels good." The Storm will be playing against the Golden State Valkyries on Saturday at 8:30 P.M. ET. Related: Fans Are Worried After Reported Seattle Storm News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.

New York Rangers' Chris Kreider traded to Anaheim Ducks for prospect
New York Rangers' Chris Kreider traded to Anaheim Ducks for prospect

New York Times

time23 minutes ago

  • New York Times

New York Rangers' Chris Kreider traded to Anaheim Ducks for prospect

The New York Rangers agreed to trade Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday for center prospect Carey Terrance after Kreider, who has a 15-team no-trade list, signed off on the deal, according to league sources. The deal, which is pending a trade call with the league, also includes a draft pick swap, with the Rangers getting a third-round pick and the Ducks getting a fourth-round pick. Kreider, New York's first-round pick from 2009, was the club's longest-tenured player. New York is not retaining any of Kreider's $6.5 million average annual value cap hit. Advertisement The Rangers and Ducks had the framework for the deal completed on Tuesday night, but Kreider's no-trade list included Anaheim, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported. Kreider agreed to the trade on Thursday. Kreider, 34, has two years left on his contract. With his contract off the books, the Rangers now have just under $15 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia. Rangers' president Chris Drury still has to sign or explore his options with multiple restricted free agents, including Will Cuylle, K'Andre Miller, Matt Rempe and Adam Edström. Miller's name came up as a potential trade candidate at the NHL Scouting Combine this month. Kreider debuted in the 2012 playoffs, then played 883 regular-season games with the Rangers over the next 13 seasons. He's coming off the most disappointing season of his career. In 68 games, he had only 22 goals — his lowest total since the shortened 2020-21 season — and eight assists. He dealt with back spasms, a midseason illness that resulted in vertigo and a hand injury that he said after the season might require surgery. Before 2024-25, he had at least 36 goals in each of the previous three seasons, including a 52-goal campaign in 2021-22. He also had a memorable hat trick in Game 6 of the 2024 second round against Carolina, lifting the Rangers to their second conference final in three years. Fans littered his lawn with hats after the game, which took place in Raleigh. The Kreider deal is the second major trade Drury has made with the Ducks in the past year involving a core player. He sent captain Jacob Trouba to Anaheim in December. Drury mentioned both Trouba and Kreider in a November memo to league general managers that indicated he was open to trades. Kreider finished his Rangers career in third place on the all-time goal list (326) and tied for first in power-play goals (116). He also played in 123 playoff games with the club and reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2014. He is the franchise leader in playoff goals. Advertisement At his best, Kreider is one of the best net-front presences in the league and a speedy skater who can play on both special teams. By acquiring him, the Ducks are making a bet that he can get back to his 2023-24 level after a difficult season both on and off the ice, after Drury's trade memo. He was an alternate captain, and younger Rangers players, including Matt Rempe, credited him with being a mentor. 'This is home for me,' Kreider said during an interview after the season. 'This is the organization that gave me an opportunity to live out my dream. I have so many incredible relationships, spent so much time in this area. Obviously, this is where I want to be.' The Ducks drafted Terrance, who was born in Akwesasne, N.Y., with the No. 59 pick in 2023. In January, The Athletic's Scott Wheeler ranked him 10th in the Ducks' prospect pool. He played for Erie in the OHL this season with 39 points in 45 games, and brings center depth to a Rangers prospect pool that needs it. The Ducks signed him to an entry-level deal in April. 'While I've seen signs of creativity and vision, the development of his playmaking into a more consistent element could be the difference between an AHL future and any chance of becoming a call-up option/fourth-liner who adds the desired speed to a line,' Wheeler wrote in January. The Ducks entered this offseason with bountiful cap space and a determination to end a seven-year postseason drought. PuckPedia had them with more than $38 million to spend, so the full freight of Kreider's contract puts a dent in that, but it won't impede their ability to go after this year's prize free agent, Mitch Marner, if the Toronto Maple Leafs star goes to market, as is widely expected. Anaheim has two premier restricted free agents to sign, in center Mason McTavish and goaltender Lukas Dostal, while Trevor Zegras, Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger are coming up as potential RFAs in 2027. Ducks GM Pat Verbeek could be faced with some decisions as to who he'll prioritize — and who he may consider parting with — as he shapes his core while shifting from rebuild to win-now mode. Advertisement With the hiring of Joel Quenneville as coach and owner Henry Samueli openly expressing that he's prepared to open the purse strings, Verbeek is looking to be aggressive. Commitments to McTavish and Dostal will eat away at that cap space, but securing them helps set the table for Quenneville. Kreider, who joins former Rangers teammates Trouba, Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano in Anaheim, gives the Ducks a dedicated and proven net-front performer, something they've long lacked. Kreider's 22 goals were his lowest total since the 56-game 2020-21 season, but that number would have tied McTavish for Anaheim's team lead last season. The Ducks' 217 goals ranked 30th in the NHL, ahead of only the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks. (Photo of Chris Kreider: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store