Mascot of Liberty University takes center stage amid defeat against Sun team
Shaking Up the Court: The vibrant spirit of the New York Liberty was undeniably evident in their preseason clash against the Connecticut Sun, despite ending on the losing side with a score of 94-86. The team's spirited mascot, Ellie the Elephant, also known as Big Ellie, commanded the attention of the Barclays Center crowd with her dynamic dance moves, stealing the limelight on the jumbotron.
The defending WNBA champions' performance on the court wasn't as polished, given their absence of key players like Breanna Stewart, who is recovering from minor offseason knee surgery, and Leonie Fiebich, who is yet to join the team due to her commitments in Spain ahead of the 2025 season. Head coach Sand Brondello only deployed the available regular players in the first half.
Among the key players who did participate, Sabrina Ionescu, Natasha Cloud, and Jonquel Jones took the court, but only in the initial two quarters.
Rising Star Marquesha Davis: The spotlight was also on rookie Marquesha Davis, with teammate Natasha Cloud drawing an All-Star comparison for the young talent[3]. Meanwhile, Sabrina Ionescu took on the role of interviewer post-game, posing a hilarious question to Jonquel Jones[4]. The Liberty stars turned heads at the Met Gala, donning custom couture ensembles[5]. The Liberty's GM also revealed the potential impact of Natasha Cloud on the reigning champions[6].
With their big names held back or unavailable, several Liberty players stepped up to challenge Tina Charles and the Sun. Representatives like Jaylyn Sherrod, Marquesha Davis, Kennedy Burke, Rebekah Gardner, and Marine Johannes all contributed, with Johannes leading the charge with 12 points. On the Sun's side, Tina Charles scored 17, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 15.
As the preseason draws to a close and the 2025 season kicks off, the Liberty are determined to replicate their successful run, having accomplished back-to-back 32-8 campaigns. Their ambitions extend to making it to their third consecutive WNBA Finals and retaining their trophy.
The Liberty are scheduled to face off against Japan's Toyota Antelopes in Portland, Oregon, on May 12, to conclude the preseason. They kick off their title defense on May 17 against the Las Vegas Aces in a WNBA Finals rematch.
[1] League sources: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton to miss majority of the 2025 WNBA season due to knee procedure. (2025). SportsZone.[2] Marine Johannes to join Liberty a week after spending time in France. (2025). Basketball Insider.[3] Natasha Cloud Compares Liberty's Marquesha Davis to All-Star Talent. (2025). Liberty Ballers.[4] Sabrina Ionescu interviews Jonquel Jones in hilarious postgame exchange. (2025). Yahoo Sports.[5] Liberty stars dazzle on Met Gala red carpet in custom couture ensembles. (2025). Woman's World Magazine.[6] What Natasha Cloud Can 'Unlock' in Reigning WNBA Champions, per Liberty GM. (2025). The Loop.
- The 2025 WNBA champions will be defending their title without key players such as Breanna Stewart and Leonie Fiebich, who are both recovering from injuries and playing abroad respectively.
- Despite the absence of several star players, the New York Liberty demonstrated their resolve during their preseason game against the Connecticut Sun, with rising star Marquesha Davis and others like Jaylyn Sherrod, Kennedy Burke, Rebekah Gardner, and Marine Johannes stepping up.
- In the upcoming season, the Liberty are aiming to replicate their successful run of the last two years, attempting to qualify for their third consecutive WNBA Finals and retaining their championship trophy.
- As the preseason concludes, the Liberty will face off against Japan's Toyota Antelopes in Portland, Oregon, before starting their title defense against the Las Vegas Aces in a WNBA Finals rematch on May 17.
