Liberty's Opening Night Blast Sets Tone for 2026 Campaign

The New York Liberty opened the 2026 WNBA season with a 106-75 win over the Connecticut Sun at Barclays Center on May 8. Despite fielding only nine players, the Liberty built a 66-point first half and never relinquished the lead. Breanna Stewart recorded 31 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, becoming the league’s second-fastest player to reach 6,000 career points.

Bleacher Report

Chris DeMarco, a former Golden State Warriors assistant and Bahamas national-team coach, replaced Sandy Brondello as head coach. The Liberty entered the opener without five regulars—including Sabrina Ionescu, Satú Sabally and Rebecca Allen—yet posted a 52.2 % field-goal rate versus the Sun’s 38.6 %. Julie Vanloo joined on a hardship contract, contributing 12 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.

Bleacher Report

Stewart’s double-double was backed by Marine Johannès (17 points, 5-for-9 three-pointers) and Jonquel Jones (10 points, five rebounds). Vanloo’s all-round play sparked the bench, while reserves Pauline Astier and Aubrey Griffin each logged their first WNBA points. The Liberty recorded 19 fast-break points, 42 points in the paint, 26-of-31 free throws and forced 10 first-half turnovers; the Sun shot 38 % overall and turned the ball over 14 times.

Bleacher Report

The dominant opening win positions New York as an early championship favorite, reflected in betting markets that list the Liberty as a top-seed contender. Analysts note that first-year head coaches rarely win titles—only Becky Hammon succeeded in 2022—making DeMarco’s NBA pedigree and the core of Stewart, Ionescu, Jones and the expected return of Sabally central to a “championship-or-bust” approach.

Newsweek

Liberty players said the team wanted to “punch first” and establish a new identity; DeMarco praised the crowd’s energy and early execution. Sun coach Rachid Meziane called the effort “baby-like” and promised a more physical style. Forward Diamond Miller labeled the defense “flat” and “unacceptable.” Sources differ on the first-half turnovers forced by the Liberty (10 versus 9) and on the exact free-throw total, though both list 26-of-31.

Hartford Courant

• “We wanted to punch first knowing that this is a season opener, home opener, a lot of different things, a lot of different people here, some familiar people here,” — Breanna Stewart, Liberty forward

New York Post

• “I think we did that tonight,” — Jonquel Jones, Liberty forward

New York Post

• “Asked what memory he’ll take away from Friday, DeMarco said, “Just the pride I had of seeing the crowd going nuts, that first quarter when we were finding great shots, we’re competing, we’re defending.” — Chris DeMarco, Liberty head coach

New York Post

The Liberty begin a three-game road trip in Washington on Sunday, while the Sun aim to regroup before the All-Star break and tighten their defense.

New York Post