TAKEAWAYS: New York Liberty eclipse 100 points for the first time, defeat Chicago 107-84
By Erica Ayala
A breakthrough for a New York Liberty team in need of one.
WHITE PLAINS— The New York Liberty reached 100 points for the first time this season in a 107-84 win over the Chicago Sky. Six players dropped double digits in the home win. Tina Charles led all scorers with 21 points, the UConn alum shot 9-for-13 from the floor and 50% from the three-point arc. Starter Brittany Boyd and reserve Sugar Rodgers posted 14 points each in the win.
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In addition to reaching the century mark for the first time in 2018, New York also defeated the Chicago Sky by the largest margin (23 points) of the season. With the win, the Liberty improve to 7-14 while the Chicago Sky drop to 7-15. Overall, New York is getting closer to a complete game, but still has a long, uphill climb to turn the season around in time to make the 2018 WNBA Playoffs.
Boyd & Hartley switch roles
Since returning from injury, Brittany Boyd has certainly made her mark on the New York Liberty team. She has excellent speed and court vision that contributes to a more fast-paced offense. In addition to scoring 14 buckets, Boyd matched her career-high in assists (10) as the New York floor general against Chicago.
“I thought she ran the team, was solid on defense,” said Smith of Boyd’s play on Sunday. Additionally, with Boyd able to start at point guard, veteran Bria Hartley was able to shift to shooting guard. “It gives us a little bit of a different rotation … and keep some ball handlers on the floor,” said Smith on the decision to start Boyd over Hartley. New York tallied a season-high of 27 assists.
Sugar Rodgers making her mark
In many ways, the Liberty is a team of role players. Yet, few embrace the job like Sugar Rodgers. She scored shot at a 75% clip from the floor and went 2-for-4 from deep. She with her second shot from deep, she gained sole possession of 5th place in all-time three-pointers for the Liberty.
Sugar Rodgers wasn't aware she was now 5th place all-time in #NYLiberty three-pointers. Tina Charles announced it to the team and they cheer. "That right there speaks for itself" Rodgers said with a smile #WNBA
— Geoff Magliocchetti (@GeoffJMags) July 15, 2018
The 2017 All-Star is a proven perimeter shooter willing and able to be a spark for her team.
“You’ve just got to be ready when your number is called,” said Rodgers of her role off the bench. “Whether you play three minutes, whether you play for 25 minutes. When you’re name is called, you need to be ready to come in the game. That’s just my mindset coming off the bench.”
Time is now
After Sunday, New York looks ready to play up to their potential more consistently.
“It’s just the sense of urgency that we had to [make] a playoff push”, Rodgers noted of the team mentality against Chicago.
Tina Charles agreed: “Every game has to be treated as a playoff game, as a single-elimination game if we want to get back in the top eight.”
The Liberty sit in 10th place behind Las Vegas (10-12) and the Connecticut Sun (11-10)–as of the conclusion of Sunday’s game in White Plains. New York is 8.5 games behind the Seattle Storm with 14 more games left in the season. As of now, the Las Vegas Aces and the Connecticut Sun stand in the way of a postseason berth.
New York plays at Dallas and Atlanta before returning home to face the Washington Mystics on Saturday.