Home / Sports / Sun Shine Bright: Connecticut Dominates Short-Handed Liberty
Sun Shine Bright: Connecticut Dominates Short-Handed Liberty
2 Aug
Summary
- Connecticut Sun beat New York Liberty 78-62
- Liberty missing key players like Breanna Stewart
- Reserves Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Leila Lacan shine for Sun

On August 2nd, 2025, the Connecticut Sun dominated the short-handed New York Liberty, winning 78-62 in a WNBA matchup. The Liberty were missing several key players, including star forward Breanna Stewart, who is recovering from a bone bruise in her right knee. New York also played without Nyara Sabally and Kennedy Burke, leaving them with only eight healthy players.
The Sun, a young team looking to establish its identity, seized the opportunity and secured a crucial victory. Marina Mabrey led the way with 18 points, while Tina Charles added 15. However, it was the Sun's reserves, Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Leila Lacan, who shone the brightest, each contributing 16 points to the team's impressive performance.
The Liberty's struggles continued, as the loss marked their fourth consecutive defeat. The team is in the midst of its longest losing streak since 2022, when they endured both a five-game and a seven-game skid. The arrival of Emma Meesseman, the 2019 WNBA Finals MVP, was not enough to turn the tide, as she suited up but did not play, still getting acclimated to the squad.