Before anything else, congratulations to the Atlanta Dream, who have rightfully earned their place in the WNBA Finals. They've played a fantastic playoff. Now, on to the topic of discussion: the recently swept New York Liberty. This week ended a turbulent, wild, and wacky season for the 2024 champs.
Everything happened this season: a new coach was hired, new players were brought in while other players were shipped out, and lineups shuffled like a deck of cards. In all of that, New York won a Commissioner's Cup and swept the #1-seeded Minnesota Lynx. However, they're now here — swept in three (very winnable) games on their home floor.
So, what's the verdict? Is it right to be glass half full or empty about this Liberty team — or is that even the right question to ask?
A Mini-Success?
Perhaps for those who haven't been around for as long or on the more casual side of support, this season could be seen as a mini-success. Despite the litany of injuries and the lack of continuity within lineups, New York basically stayed stagnant in the wins column—27 wins last season to 26 this year.
In the middle of the season, they went scorched earth in the Commissioner's Cup Games to get all the way to the final, which they won 93-88 over the Las Vegas Aces.
The Liberty went on several win streaks and stormed into the playoffs with every opportunity to make some noise. And make noise they did, with their historic sweep against Minnesota. Not to mention they did all of this with the introduction of new head coach Chris DeMarco and his new system, too. That's on top of all the injury and continuity issues.
A CC Cup title with a historic semifinal run despite all of the above? Sounds like success to me.
So why exactly does a whole portion of Liberty Nation view it differently?
Empty The Glass
There is a mighty subsection of Liberty fans who have seen it all; from the first days of the team (and therefore, the league), to the dog days in Rochester, and now in the present day in a raucous Barclays Center. They've seen players like Teresa Weatherspoon, Cappie Pondexter, and now the trio of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu pour everything they have into this organization.
Most of all, they've seen a title in their city. Comparing 2024 to what the Liberty are now would be an insult to them. This team is meant to win titles, and for several controllable reasons, they were not even close to getting there in 2026.
Start with that new guy. Some may have had a longer grace period than others, but many have concluded that Chris DeMarco is not good enough to coach this basketball team. Sure, he had moments, but the ones where he seemed well out of his depth stuck out way more.
A Commissioner's Cup is cool and all, but no one joins a team to win a Commissioner's Cup. Banners aren't hung for a midseason cup trophy. The goal in New York is simple: go win league championships. When push came to shove, Liberty lifers were given overwhelming evidence that DeMarco did not possess the ability needed to do so.
However, it's not just the coaching that some fans believe should be under fire.
In the final game of the season, the Liberty sported a lineup of Ionescu/Marine Fauthoux/Leonie Fiebich/Stewart/Jones that played the final sixteen minutes of their season. That, to put it bluntly, is inexcusable. The reserves must offer more. The '24 run was by the play of Nyara Sabally, who had huge plays coming off the deck — most infamously, the Steal Heard 'Round the World in Game 5.
Kayla Thornton was another reserve that year who played a massive role in that run, much like she's doing for Golden State now. The only one that came off the bench to produce in a big way this time around? The aforementioned Fauthoux, who essentially played starter minutes in Games 2 and 3.
The responsibility of getting that bench in proper shape falls in the hands of the front office. While GM Johnathan Kolb painted masterstrokes to construct what would become a title winner, he's lost his touch as of late.
The hiring of the widely questioned DeMarco? One that Kolb co-signed. Allowing Thornton and Sabally to be scooped by the Valkyries and Tempo in their expansion drafts without properly replacing them? Also a Kolb conundrum.
He had his fingerprints all over the release of fan favorite Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, a move the tenured members of Liberty Nation detested. For the diehards, it is everything. It's the inexperienced head coach, the lack of depth on the bench, and the front office losing their magic touch in talent acquisition—both with coaches and players.
The Big 3 is only getting older and the surplus of talent will only be around for so long. There are simply no years to be wasted, and this year felt like a waste to many Liberty fans.
The Real Questions
So, who's right? Those who view the glass as half full or half empty? Actually, here's food for thought: what if that doesn't matter?
"Who's right?" would imply there is only one way to view this season, and that any other way is an abject falsehood. However, that's not how sports work. The real question to ask is "What is right?". Both sides can provide accurate readings on certain parts of the year.
For example, the Liberty were objectively successful this year—winning the Commissioner's Cup, smoking the #1 seed in the playoffs, and being a semifinalist is an objective success. Most teams would crawl over glass for that kind of year.
However, the Liberty are simply not here to be just "semifinalists". They want hardware.
The organization got a taste in 2024, and since then, they've come nowhere close. Through player mismanagement and regime changes, the Liberty are barely recognizable from when they won it all.
Starting over at that head coaching job, as many suggest New York should do, could work wonders. However, the same was said after Sandy Brondello was let go at the end of last year. Furthermore, as bad as some decisions have been from Kolb lately — mainly the handling of the Laney-Hamilton saga— he still has his fastball. Marine Fauteoux and Pauline Astier have shone in seafoam green, and they have much more to offer to this team.
All in all, it's about perspective.
Do you believe that New York battled a ton of uncontrollables, like an injury bug, and handled it well considering those facts? If so, your glass is half full.
Do you believe the best work around that stuff and that outside the Big 3, the best aren't working in New York right now? Your glass is half empty. Some take from both glasses and end up with an odd amount of drink in their cup.
Whatever the mood is, it won't change the outcome.
All that can happen now is the process of the offseason, where New York has the chance to address their issues and come back stronger than ever before.
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