Courtney Vandersloot is averaging a league-best 8.1 assists per game for the New York Liberty this season. Photo by Brandon Todd/New York Liberty
The WNBA’s “Super Team” is specializing in sharing the ball.
That’s a trend the New York Liberty hope to continue Tuesday night when they try to close out a two-game road sweep of the Los Angeles Sparks.
“I just think we did a better job moving the ball and getting everyone involved compared to the last game,” said Liberty sharp-shooter Marine Johannes following Sunday’s 87-79 victory over the Sparks in front of 8,139 fans at crypto.com Arena.
Johannes, who had her 15 points on a 5-of-5 performance from 3-point range in the first half, was only part of the reason New York (19-6) rebounded from Friday night’s disappointing 88-83 loss to Minnesota at Barclays Center.
The Liberty, off to the best 25-game start in franchise history, watched the Lynx run past them early with a 19-2 run that thwarted what would have been a perfect 4-0 homestand.
New York managed 20 assists against Minnesota, shy of their league-best 24.3-assist average.
Johannes’ early shooting clinic and New York’s tenacity on the floor and generosity with the ball helped lead to a 21-2 start in L.A. on Sunday.
“I think we were limiting them to tough shots and we were rebounding the ball,” said Liberty forward and MVP candidate Breanna Stewart. “We know the run we gave up to Minnesota in the first quarter.”
“Every time we can get out and get the lead, it’s because we’re making right decisions and the ball is getting in the right hands,” added New York head coach Sandy Brondello.
Though there was a comeback by the Sparks late in the fourth quarter, the Liberty held on for their fifth win in six games by becoming just the second team in any WNBA campaign to have at least 12 games with 25-plus assists.
That’s with 15 contests remaining in the first-ever 40-game WNBA regular season.
In the opener of this set, New York…
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