If you’ve spent any time at Barclays Center or Mohegan Sun Arena lately, you know the vibe is just different when these two show up. It isn’t just about the standings. It’s about the pure, unadulterated grit of the Connecticut Sun vs New York Liberty matches. Honestly, if you aren’t paying attention to this matchup, you’re missing the absolute best of what the WNBA is right now. We’re talking about two teams with completely different DNAs constantly clashing in ways that make your head spin.
One night, the Liberty are raining down a record-tying 19 three-pointers like they did in that 100-52 blowout back in June 2025. Then, just when you think New York is unstoppable, the Sun come back with that suffocating defense and grind out a win. It’s a chess match, but with more sweat and occasional trash talk.
The Most Recent Drama (2025 Season)
The 2025 season was a wild ride for both franchises. One of the biggest talking points was Breanna Stewart’s return. After missing 13 games with a bone bruise in her right knee, she stepped back onto the court on August 25, 2025, specifically to face the Sun. She was on a 21-minute restriction, which sounds like she’d be a non-factor, right? Wrong.
Stewie dropped 19 points and looked like she hadn’t missed a day. Jonquel Jones backed her up with a monster double-double—18 points and 11 rebounds. The Liberty escaped with an 81-79 win, but it was anything but easy. Connecticut had them on the ropes, trailing by just a point in the final seconds before a late turnover by Leila Lacan sealed their fate.
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A Quick Look at the 2025 Scores
- May 9, 2025: Sun 94, Liberty 86 (Preseason statement)
- June 1, 2025: Liberty 100, Sun 52 (The 48-point massacre)
- August 1, 2025: Sun 78, Liberty 62 (Defense wins championships)
- August 3, 2025: Liberty 87, Sun 78 (Sabrina Ionescu goes for 36!)
- August 25, 2025: Liberty 81, Sun 79 (The "Stewie is Back" game)
Why the Sun are New York’s Kryptonite
Most people see the Liberty as this "Superteam" and expect them to steamroll everyone. Usually, they do. But Connecticut? They’ve got this weird way of making the Liberty look human. Basically, the Sun play a style that is incredibly physical and, frankly, annoying to play against.
Alyssa Thomas is the engine. She’s out there playing 40 minutes, grabbing 12 boards, and dishing out 7 assists like it’s a light workout. When the Sun won 78-62 on August 1, 2025, they held the defending champions to a season-low point total. They forced New York into bad shots and took away the perimeter. It was a defensive clinic. Marina Mabrey was a huge addition for them, too. Her scoring (18 points in that August win) gave them the offensive punch they sometimes lack when the game slows down.
Sabrina Ionescu is Just Different
You can't talk about Connecticut Sun vs New York Liberty matches without mentioning Sabrina. She had a game on August 3, 2025, that felt like something out of a video game. 36 points. 11 rebounds. 4 assists. She was "hunting her shot," as the announcers like to say. When she gets into that zone where she’s pulling up from the logo and actually hitting it, there isn’t a defensive scheme in the world that works.
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Connecticut tries to put DeWanna Bonner or DiJonai Carrington on her to use their length, but Ionescu’s vision has improved so much that she just picks the double-team apart. She’s become a much more complete player than the "just a shooter" label people tried to give her early on.
The Jonquel Jones Revenge Factor
Don't forget the history here. Jonquel Jones was the face of the Connecticut Sun for years. She was their MVP. Watching her play against her old team is always a sub-plot. She doesn't usually play with a chip on her shoulder—she’s too professional for that—but you can tell she knows their tendencies. In the August 25 matchup, her 18 points and 11 rebounds were the difference. She knows exactly where the Sun's help defense is coming from because she used to be that help defense.
What to Watch for in 2026
As we head into the 2026 season, the stakes are even higher. The Liberty are the hunted. They are the benchmark for excellence in the league. The Sun, meanwhile, are in that "always a bridesmaid" phase where they are consistently elite but haven't quite grabbed the ring yet.
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Keep an eye on the young talent. Leila Lacan for the Sun is starting to show flashes of being a primary scoring option. She had 22 points in that narrow August loss. If she develops into a consistent 20-point-per-game threat alongside Bonner and Thomas, Connecticut won't just be "gritty"—they'll be terrifying.
How to Get the Most Out of the Next Matchup
If you're planning on catching the next game, here’s the reality: tickets at Barclays Center are getting expensive. The Liberty's popularity has skyrocketed. If you want to see a game without breaking the bank, Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville is actually a great alternative. It’s smaller, louder, and honestly, the sightlines are better.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check the Injury Report: These teams play hard. In 2025, the outcome of almost every game swung based on whether Stewart or Jones were at 100%.
- Watch the First Quarter: New York tends to start fast. If Connecticut can keep it within 5 points after the first 10 minutes, they usually turn it into a dogfight.
- Follow the In-Season Tournament: These teams often meet in the Commissioner’s Cup. The intensity in those mid-season games is much higher because there’s actual cash on the line for the players.
- Look at the Bench: In the May 2025 preseason game, Connecticut’s bench outscored New York’s by 20. Depth is the Sun’s secret weapon.
Whether it's a blowout or a two-point nail-biter, the Connecticut Sun vs New York Liberty matches have become the gold standard for WNBA rivalries. It’s the contrast of styles—New York’s flair and shooting vs Connecticut’s muscle and grit—that makes it must-watch TV every single time they step on the hardwood.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the official WNBA schedule for 2026 release dates and grab your tickets early. These matches are increasingly selling out weeks in advance as the New York market continues to explode. Monitoring the player prop markets for "Rebounds" is also a smart move for bettors, as Alyssa Thomas and Jonquel Jones consistently hit double-digits when facing each other.