Seven months after successful their first title in franchise historical past, the New York Liberty are ready to defend their championship standing. The Liberty begins their back-to-back bid of their season opener in opposition to the Las Vegas Aces, the place 2024 breakout star Leonie Fiebich is anticipated to return to the group.
Fiebich had been away from the group whereas competing for Valencia within the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto however returned to New York in time for the Liberty’s season opener in opposition to the Aces. She was seen practising with the group in the future earlier than their season debut by New York Publish reporter Madeline Kenney.
Fiebich, a 2020 second-round decide of the Los Angeles Sparks, averaged 9.8 factors per recreation for Valencia. She led the group to a championship only one week earlier than returning to the Liberty for the 2025 WNBA season.
Regardless of being drafted in 2020, Fiebich didn’t make her WNBA debut till 2024. She joined the Liberty within the 2023-2024 offseason and spent the primary half of her rookie season on the bench. Nevertheless, she shortly grew right into a beginning position and have become a key piece of the group’s 2024 championship.
Liberty, Aces throw down in high-stakes 2025 season opener
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After the Liberty eradicated the Aces within the 2024 semifinals, the groups will rematch within the 2025 season opener. As the 2 most up-to-date WNBA champions, all eyes shall be on the Saturday afternoon conflict.
The Liberty-Aces rivalry goes past simply the 2024 season. With there being simply 13 groups within the WNBA — together with the current enlargement membership, Golden State Valkyries — the handful of championship-caliber franchises discover themselves repeatedly butting heads. One 12 months earlier than New York ended Las Vegas’ three-peat bid, the Aces took them down within the 2023 Finals to win their second consecutive title.
Each rosters maintained consistency over the offseason, with a number of notable adjustments. Las Vegas prominently despatched Kelsey Plum to the Sparks, receiving the Seattle Storm’s Jewell Loyd in return. In any other case, the group remains to be anchored by three-time MVP A’ja Wilson and three-time All-Star Jackie Younger.