Connecticut Sun Fall to Liberty; Sheldon and Morrow Shine

Jacy Sheldon (No. 4) of the Connecticut Sun played with determination and hustle against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. (Photo: Catalina Fragoso | NBAE via Getty Images)

NEW YORK — The Connecticut Sun fell in a 100–52 loss to the undefeated New York Liberty on Sunday afternoon at Barclays Center, marking one of the most lopsided defeats in franchise history and signaling serious challenges early in their 2025 WNBA campaign.

Sunday’s 48-point margin set a new high-water mark for the Liberty, marking their largest victory in franchise history and the second-largest defeat in WNBA history overall. Logging a perfect 7–0 on the season, the Liberty showcased the offensive firepower and team cohesion that has made them one of the teams to beat this year.

From the opening tipoff of both teams’ first WNBA Commissioner’s Cup matchup, New York demonstrated why they have been so dominant. Their offensive execution was near flawless, as they quickly established a commanding 31–13 lead by the end of the first quarter.

Notably, the Liberty shot an incredible 62.3% from the field on the night, including a record-tying 19 made three-pointers, converting at an eye-popping 59.4% rate from beyond the arc. Their ball movement was crisp, and every player seemed to contribute as the offense flowed seamlessly.

In contrast, Connecticut struggled mightily to find any offensive rhythm. The Sun managed just 31.1% shooting from the field and a frustratingly low 21.4% from three-point range. This cold shooting led to numerous scoring droughts, and the Sun found themselves in a deep hole early, forced into chasing the Liberty’s fast pace.

Leading the charge for New York was Sabrina Ionescu, who poured in 18 points, including four pinpoint three-pointers that set the tone from the perimeter. Breanna Stewart provided a steady inside presence, scoring 13 points while grabbing three rebounds. Jonquel Jones also stood out with a double-double effort of 13 points and 11 rebounds — her fifth such performance this season.

Likewise, the Liberty’s depth was on full display as well, with 10 of 11 players recording points and their bench outscoring Connecticut’s starters 35–31, highlighting the energy and balance New York brought to the floor.

On the Sun’s side, the offense was largely stifled, but sophomore guard Jacy Sheldon offered a rare bright spot off the bench. Sheldon scored 10 points on efficient 4-of-7 shooting, showing flashes of the scoring ability and competitive fire that Connecticut will need if they are to turn the season around. Aneesah Morrow chipped in eight points and three rebounds, but overall the Sun lacked the offensive cohesion to mount any sustained challenges.

Despite the discouraging scoreboard, both Sheldon and Morrow maintained a competitive spirit that could serve the team well moving forward.

Jacy Sheldon (No. 4) and Haley Peters (No. 7) of the Connecticut Sun refused to waver even in a tough game against the New York Liberty.(Photo: Catalina Fragoso | NBAE via Getty Images)

“That’s being a competitor,” Sheldon said in the postgame press conference. “No matter what the score is, we’re gonna keep playing, and we’re gonna keep playing hard. So I think that was our mentality for me.”

Morrow echoed that sentiment, adding, “I would just say it’s my style of playing with an intensity by grit on the floor, and that’s what I did tonight for my opportunity.”

Rachid Meziane, head coach of the Sun, did not shy away from addressing the struggles his team faced, but emphasized the need to focus on fundamentals and consistency.

“It was a little bit easy because we won against Indiana playing in a certain way, and we lost against New York this afternoon playing in certain ways,” Meziane explained. “The message is to just refocus on our strength and play with our game. And even every time we play our strength, we compete. We compete with teams.

“But every time we lost our game, our toughness, our focus, we lost the game. So just understand that we cannot be a team who can choose to just play offense or play defense. To win games today, we have to be consistent on both sides of the court and doing 40 minutes.”

One of the critical factors in the Sun’s loss was their shooting woes. Connecticut shot just 31.1% from the field overall, hitting only 9 of 42 from three-point range (21.4%), while New York was nearly unstoppable from long range, hitting 19 of 32 (59.4%). The Liberty’s hot start and continued offensive barrage forced the Sun to play catch-up from the opening minutes, draining their energy and limiting opportunities.

Defensively, the Sun struggled to contain the Liberty’s sharpshooters. New York’s quick ball movement and confident perimeter shooting stretched the Sun’s defense thin, resulting in open looks and easy baskets. The Liberty also dominated the glass, out-rebounding Connecticut 42–33. Jones’ work on the boards fueled second-chance points that helped widen the gap.

Turnovers also played a role in the outcome. Connecticut committed 14 turnovers to New York’s 10, and the Liberty capitalized by converting those mistakes into points in transition. The Sun’s defensive lapses in transition gave the Liberty easy scoring chances and prevented Connecticut from building any sustained momentum.

Rayah Marshall (No. 13) of the Connecticut Sun played with the grit and determination that Aneesah Morrow (No. 24) and her teammates exerted in a challenging game against the New York Liberty. (Photo: Catalina Fragoso | NBAE via Getty Images)

Despite the difficult loss, there are reasons for cautious optimism, particularly in the effort and intensity shown by younger players like Sheldon and Morrow. Their competitive grit and flashes of scoring ability suggest that the Sun possess the foundational pieces necessary to improve as the season progresses.

With the 2025 WNBA season still in its infancy, there is ample time for the Sun to adjust and grow. But the urgency is clear: to compete with the league’s top teams like New York, Connecticut must find greater offensive efficiency, tighten their defense, and sustain their effort and focus for the full 40 minutes — lessons Coach Meziane emphasized after Sunday’s loss.

As Sheldon said, the mentality must remain fierce no matter the scoreboard. “We’re gonna keep playing hard,” she said.

That attitude could be the spark Connecticut needs to reverse course and reclaim their competitiveness in the league.

The Next Sunrise

The Sun now face a crucial stretch in their schedule with an opportunity to regroup before returning home to Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday, June 6, when they host the Atlanta Dream at 7:30 p.m. ET. That contest will be an important moment for Connecticut to bounce back in front of their home fans and try to and bring back some sunshine to the Nutmeg State after falling 1-6.

Connecticut Sun: By the Numbers

New York Liberty: By the Numbers