The Chris DeMarco era in Brooklyn has officially arrived—and it couldn't have started with a bigger bang. The New York Liberty kicked off the WNBA's historic 30th season in style, dismantling the Connecticut Sun 106-75 at Barclays Center on Friday night. For fans of the game—and anyone who loves seeing a new system click from the opening tip—this was must-watch basketball.
From the very first quarter, the Liberty sent a message. They poured in 36 points in the opening period, the franchise's highest-scoring first quarter since 2023. The new-look offense, built around crisp pick-and-rolls and relentless paint attacks, was on full display. Guards pushed the pace, found open shooters on the perimeter, and made the Sun defense look a step behind all night.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added a signature moment early, welcoming Sun rookie Gianna Kneepkens to the WNBA with a devastating crossover that sent the first-round pick to the floor before draining the jumper. It was the kind of highlight that gets fans out of their seats—and signals that this Liberty team plays with confidence and flair.
Breanna Stewart led all scorers with 31 points, adding 10 rebounds, two assists, and three blocks. In the process, she became the second-fastest player in WNBA history to reach 6,000 career points, achieving the milestone in just 293 games. Stewart's dominance was the engine behind a balanced attack—every starter except Pauline Astier scored in double figures.
The depth was so impressive that Julie Vanloo, who inked a hardship contract and arrived in New York just after midnight, was on triple-double watch by halftime. She finished with 12 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds—a remarkable debut after barely meeting her new teammates hours earlier.
By halftime, the game was essentially decided, with the Liberty up 66-37. Connecticut's lone bright spots came during timeouts, as jumbotron tributes honored two former Liberty members: Kennedy Burke and head athletic trainer Terri Acosta. Burke finished with four points, three rebounds, and three assists in her return to Barclays Center.
With only nine players available due to the additions of Vanloo and New York native Aubrey Griffin, DeMarco deployed a starting lineup of Astier, Marine Johannes, Jonquel Jones, Stewart, and Laney-Hamilton. That group dominated on both ends, facing little resistance from a rebuilding Sun team. For Liberty fans, this was the perfect start to a new era—and a glimpse of what this offense can become when it's fully clicking.