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The New York Liberty extended their perfect start with a gritty overtime win in Washington, as guard Marine Johannes continued a remarkable shooting run that has the team buzzing. With Breanna Stewart delivering another dominant all-around outing, the Liberty look like title contenders early in the WNBA season.
Marine Johannes heats up from deep and keeps rolling
Johannes has been nearly unguardable to open the year. She buried multiple long-range shots on Sunday and has given the Liberty a sharpshooting lift while Sabrina Ionescu recovers.
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Sunday’s performance at a glance
- 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting.
- 6 made three-pointers on 13 attempts.
- Added two assists and two steals.
That kind of volume and accuracy from distance has changed the Liberty’s spacing. Opponents must respect the perimeter or pay the price.
Historic streak: Johannes joins elite company
The Liberty highlighted a rare feat on social media after the win. Johannes is one of only a few players in league history to start a season with that many long-range makes.
- At least 10 three-pointers in her first two games of the season.
- Joined Nikki McCray as one of the only players with consecutive games of five-plus threes to open a campaign.
Those milestones underline how quickly Johannes has become a key scoring option.
Breanna Stewart continues to anchor New York
While Johannes provides scoring bursts, Stewart remains the team’s steady force. She produced another complete stat line in Washington.
- 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists on Sunday.
- Also contributed two steals and two blocks.
- In Friday’s blowout of Connecticut she had 31 points and 10 rebounds.
Stewart’s consistency gives the Liberty a reliable go-to player in tight moments.
Depth, roster arc, and Johannes’ path to prominence
Johannes’ impact gains extra weight because she stepped into a bigger role while a star recovers. Ionescu is sidelined for a short stint after a preseason foot injury.
The 31-year-old French guard went undrafted in 2017 and built her career in European leagues. She’s returned to New York multiple times and carved out a rotation role.
- Last season she played a career-high 44 games.
- Averaged about 6.4 points in limited minutes off the bench.
Now she’s showing she can do more when called upon.
Upcoming test: Portland Fire looms on Tuesday
The Liberty face the Portland Fire next. Johannes will look to sustain her stroke. The matchup will also show whether New York’s depth can hold through a longer stretch without Ionescu.
- Watch for Boston’s defensive adjustments to perimeter threats.
- Stewart’s role as a focal point will remain central.
