Guru’s WNBA Report: Clarendon Leads New York Over Washington for Season’s First Win

By ROB KNOX (@knoxrob1)

 

Layshia Clarendon’s smile returned.

 

She had a terrific reason for flashing her pearly whites. While dribbling the ball as time expired, Clarendon was grinning. 

 

After all, it was only fitting that Clarendon was the final person to touch the ball for the New York Liberty because her fingerprints, tenacity, and leadership were all over this game as the Liberty defeated the Washington Mystics, 74-66 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida Friday night. 

 

“I felt relieved and proud,” said Clarendon when asked what was going through her mind as time was ticking away. “I knew there were 7.4 seconds left so I didn’t have to get past half court. We were relieved to get that monkey off of our back and win. I don’t think we did anything crazy tonight or anything we are not capable of.”

 

Clarendon’s energy rubbed off on her teammates as they showcased the requisite toughness needed to apply the finishing touches of their first victory of the 2020 season. 

 

It was also the first WNBA triumph for New York head coach Walt Hopkins, who received a celebratory shower of water from his jubilant players upon entering the locker room.

 

“It was extremely touching that they care,” Hopkins said. “It was really warm and genuine. A pretty cool moment. We didn’t want to celebrate on the court.”

 

Clarendon fired the dagger that secured the Liberty’s win when she rained home a deep 3-pointer from in front of the Mystics bench. That basket gave the Liberty a 16-point bulge and rendered Washington’s final eight points of the contest inconsequential. 

 

The Liberty (1-5 overall) were sharp in terminating its five-game losing streak. 

 

In shooting 37.5 percent, the Mystics (3-3) never found their groove as their skid extended to three games. 

 

The New York Liberty’s persistence was rewarded as they delivered their best performance of the 2020 season. They have been competitive in their losses but hadn’t been able to finish. 

 

They also dealt with the disappointing reality that No. 1 overall draft pick Sabrina Ionescu will be sidelined for a significant period of time with a third-degree ankle sprain. The Liberty ignored all of that adversity and responded well to Thursday’s team meeting. 

 

“I am going to remember their resilience after a really emotional meeting,” Hopkins said. 

 

Yet, behind Clarendon, who played easy and free, the Liberty finally pulled everything together to beat the Mystics for the first time since August 25, 2017. New York stopped a seven-game losing streak to Washington.

 

Clarendon was one of three Liberty players in double figures with 14 points and six assists. Amanda Zahui B added 14 points along with 14 rebounds, including the 500th of her career. Kia Nurse scored a team-high 17 points. New York made 12 3-pointers. 

 

Contributing nine points each for the Liberty were Leaonna Odom, who made her first start of the season, and Jocelyn Willoughby.

 

For Washington, Aerial Powers scored a game-high 20 points. She made all nine of her free throws. Emma Meesseman had 17 points and Myisha Hines-Allen contributed 12 points and eight rebounds. 

 

During Friday’s pre-game media availability, Clarendon discussed getting her joy back. She also talked about reading by the swimming pool with a large glass of iced tea to refresh her. 

 

Clarendon’s performance invigorated her teammates especially after the Mystics scored nine consecutive points to slice a 14-point deficit to 47-42 in the third quarter. 

 

She quelled any thoughts of a New York collapse by calmly swishing a 3-pointer with 2:42 remaining in the third quarter to swell the Liberty’s advantage to 50-42.

 

Veteran Mystic head coach Mike Thibault was frustrated following the game. 

 

His post-game press conference lasted 2 minutes 26 seconds. He didn’t believe the Mystics displayed a sense of urgency and said their “basketball IQ was bad from start to finish.”

 

They will try to turn the page when they meet the Indiana Fever on Sunday night at 7 p.m. It will the second and final meeting of the season between the two teams.  

 

“We have to find our identity,” Powers said. “We played good the first three games, but it’s like we are losing sight of who we are. The ball isn’t moving and defensively, we’re missing some assignments so it is the most embarrassing game we’ve ever faced. We’ll try to figure out who we are and come out better for the next few games.”