Sunday\u2019s preseason matchup against the Connecticut Sun will be the final live opportunity for the Liberty to fine tune its offense before the start of the regular season.<\/p>\n
In last week\u2019s 109-91 loss to the Indiana Fever, the team \u2014 as expected \u2014 looked like a work in progress playing in Chris DeMarco\u2019s new system.<\/p>\n
DeMarco and his players now look forward to getting on the same page with the WNBA\u2019s 30th season just a week away.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just building from the last one we had,\u201d Sabrina Ionescu said on what she expects from Sunday\u2019s matchup. \u201cThe first [game], it was like four days into learning the new offense, and was a little clunky, and everyone was out of position..\u201d<\/p>\n
Ionescu said the coaching staff instructed players on how the offense was supposed to run, but players only performed it correctly \u201cunder 30 percent of the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey weren\u2019t mad about it. It\u2019s like this is normal until everyone starts to learn where they have to go,\u201d said Ionescu. \u201cIt\u2019s all a part of the learning process. And so I think this next game for us is first getting that number above what it was last game, but continuing to build and chip away, and little by little, everything will feel really easy and not have to think
about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new Liberty offense is expected to be different from Sandy Brondello\u2019s read-and-react system from last season. At times, Liberty players \u2014 and general manager Jonathan Kolb \u2014 cited constant east-to-west movement and poor spacing as issues from the Brondello era.<\/p>\n
DeMarco wants a more structured process while playing with more space. As Ionescu stated, that was on displayed in the team\u2019s preseason opener, but the 22 turnovers is proof of the process being a work in progress.<\/p>\n
Key absences and the use of newer training camp players contributed to the struggles, too.<\/p>\n
Offseason acquisitions Satou Sabally and Rebecca Allen were absent due to \u201creconditioning.\u201d Marine Fauthoux, one of the team\u2019s developmental players, missed the game with the same designation. Leonie Fiebich, Pauline Astier and Raquel Carrera all were overseas at the time of the matchup, too.<\/p>\n
But with Sabally in the mix to return, Astier now with the team and more practice time for everyone in Brooklyn, the team hopes to fix its issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust find more rhythm,\u201d DeMarco said he hopes to accomplish on Sunday. \u201cThere\u2019s certain combinations we\u2019ll look at, but I think it\u2019s all part of training camp. You know, we\u2019ve been playing against each other. We obviously have our practice squad we\u2019re playing against but a chance for us to come together and play against a different opponent who\u2019s also organized.\u201d<\/p>\n
THE $600 MILLION TEAM<\/p>\n
The rich keep getting richer.<\/p>\n