The Barclays Center was jam-packed on Saturday as the New York Liberty took its first foray in the 30th season of the WNBA. Over 17,000 people tuned in as the city welcomed a new era under head coach Chris DeMarco, following the departure of championship-winning coach Sandy Brondello. The story unfolded in the most fabulous way possible as the Liberty stood tall against the Connecticut Sun, making it a record-breaking night in front of a notable attendee in the arena.

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani graced the Liberty’s season opener on Friday as he saw his city’s franchise rip through Connecticut 75-106 on the night. The WNBA X handle shared some notable glimpses of the Mayor’s time at the arena as he posed for the camera.

“Touchdown at Barclays! New York’s very own Mayor Zohran Mamdani is all smiles at the @nyliberty’s opening night 🤗”

Mamdani’s presence at the Barclays Center marked a strong association between the city’s political hierarchy and one of the region’s most notable sporting teams. And to honor, the New York Liberty made sure that their mayor got a good view in one of his first appearances in a Liberty game. The NY Liberty ran riot in the first quarter of the game. DeMarco’s team recorded 36 points alone in the first 10 minutes of the game. In fact, it was Liberty’s highest first-quarter tally since 2023.

Basketball analyst Robin Lundberg also claimed that the Liberty might have also set a record for choking out their opponents in the fastest time possible in a season opener after building a convincing 23-point lead in the first quarter. “Liberty might have set a record for the fastest a team has beaten its opponent in an opener,” Lunberg shared in a post.

Breanna Stewart tipped off the scoring with a 7-foot turnaround jump shot, and after that, it was all about Marine Johannes and Pauline Astier. Both of them went on an 11-point scoring spree, giving the Liberty an early 9-point lead over the Sun. The 2024 champions didn’t look back as they convincingly extended the line on each possession.

Stewart dominated the interior, scoring 10 of 17 in two-pointers. She also dominated the rebound quotient with 10 to her name, and was the primary foundation behind Liberty’s 31-point win in front of the city mayor, Zohran Mamdani.

“We wanted to punch first,” Stewart said after the win. “Knowing that this is a season-opener, home-opener, a lot of different things, a lot of different people here, some familiar people here, but this is us turning the page and turning the chapter a little bit, and focusing on what we have now and making sure that we start strong this season.”

Jonquel Jones played second fiddle, scoring 10 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. Hardship contract player Julie Vanloo also chipped in with a double-double, including 12 points. Connecticut Sun players, including Brittney Griner, Aneesah Morrow, and Diamond Miller, showcased resistance, scoring 10+ points each.

However, Connecticut’s cold shooting (39% from the field and just 18% beyond the three-point line) plagued their performance in their regular-season opener. On the other hand, the New York Liberty players were relentless in their measures, scoring 52% from the field, even with some of their veteran players missing on the night.

No, Sabrina Ionescu? Yet No Problem for the New York Liberty

The NY Liberty weren’t meant to dominate like this in their season opener on Friday. With Sabrina Ionescu out due to a left foot injury and Satou Sabally resting after cyst surgery, it was clear their team depth was left thin. But as reality set in, the Liberty were up in a flash, making a light work of the Connecticut Sun in front of their 17,000 fans at the Barclays Center.

The win wasn’t just about Stewart’s team-high 31 points or Jones’ decent outing. For Liberty, those are intangibles, but the most impressive fact from the game was how the perimeter players turned up in the absence of their veteran, Ionescu. Chris DeMarco deployed a three-guard starting lineup at the tipoff. Marine Johannes, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, and Pauline Astier capped off the scoring around Stewart.

Johannes finished the night with 17 points, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc. Laney-Hamilton added 12 more to the Liberty total, while Astier contributed with 5 points and 4 assists. It clearly reinforces that the Liberty aren’t over-reliant on their Big Three or star signings. The team can convincingly find its way through even without them, an early positive for one of the possible title contenders of the season.

DeMarco was quick to double down on his team’s quality that allowed them to dominate the Connecticut Sun. “We wanted depth, and if this [stretch with injuries] happened, we wanted to be prepared offensively and defensively, just keep the music playing, offensively keep the ball moving,” DeMarco said. “Really happy across the board.”

Liberty’s playmaking and ball-handling also didn’t show any worrying signs, with Vanloo dictating the play efficiently. She recorded a team-high 11 assists and filled the shoes of Ionescu perfectly. With their veteran guard projected to be absent for the next game as well, the Liberty will have to keep building this team’s depth and chemistry before Ionescu and Sabally return, and their stars take over.