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New York Liberty Faces A Critical Offseason With Major Decisions Looming For Its Core Stars
Jonquel Jones (Photo by Imagn Images)

New York Liberty Faces A Critical Offseason With Major Decisions Looming For Its Core Stars

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With the core secured, the New York Liberty will have to look ahead to fix the issues that cost them the 2025 championship.

The Free agency turnaround quickly hit the headlines with a few notable changes, making contender teams a legit challenger, while teams deciding to go for a rebuild also stacked up a few impactful stars. With Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones recommitting to the New York Liberty team, the franchise fulfilled its first promise, keeping the championship core.

Yet the side will face tougher challenges from the Las Vegas Aces, the Indiana Fever, Atlanta Dream, and Los Angeles Sparks, who are also building superteams. There are three key points that would ensure them a smooth sailing path to the championship.

New York Liberty
New York Liberty (Photo by Imagn Images)

Three Decisions New York Liberty Must Cover For 2026 Season

As soon as the Liberty lost in the first round to the Mercury, the franchise parted ways with Sandy Brondello, a bold decision that attracted much criticism, prompting GM Jonathan Kolb to have a press conference, and he declared a ‘massive opportunity’ ahead days after firing coach Sandy Brondello.

Then he had to prove his words, keeping the core intact, and add some enforcement that would turn them into contenders. Here are the three decisions the franchise must address before the 2026 season.

Capability of the Core Of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, And Sabrina Ionescu

The New Yorkers loved their trio, who brought the franchise its first championship in 2024. Jonquel Jones was the MVP while Stewie and Ionescu did their duties perfectly. Although it’s just two seasons ago, the 2025 performance was rather disappointing. Stewart was the only scorer in the final quarter, which was even more shocking to the former MVP.

Winning the Unrivaled league, Stewart kept her standards high, but Sab and Jones need to back her up with their performances as the league’s quality is much better in the 2026 season, with the new opponents not named Lynx or Mercury would be able to overturn the Liberty challenge. Lynx and Mercury had been silent throughout the free agency and might as well find some balance in the coming days.

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So securing Stewie-Sab-JJ would be much appreciated only if they win a title; otherwise, it’s another decision that will bite the front office.

Adding Satou Sabally to the Core

In 2025, the trio also had to carry the load with minimal support from the roster. The scenario could be different with Satou Sabally’s singing. A proven talent who was also a key member of Mercury’s route to the final, capable of impacting at both ends of the floor.

But the player missed the Unrivaled league due to a concussion, and the announcement stated ‘indefinitely’, leaving her availability in question. Sabally sent a cryptic response with ‘Very soon, god speed’ might just be the situation that the Liberty would be hoping for.

Also, choosing Sabally over Alanna Smith suggests the offensive firepower the side is looking to add to its defense. Only time will tell whether the decision was spot on or a big mistake.

Will Liberty be able to add Betnijah Laney-Hamilton?

Even before the championship, the Liberty fanbase had one star to follow and keep the franchise in contention. The versatile player was a gritty, physical presence for the superteam iteration of the Liberty.

A strong defensive player who was able to bulldoze her way to the rim and even pop up with a three-pointer to change the game results. Moreover, she could fill in for the ‘injured’ players, which was another major issue the Liberty team had to deal with during the 2025 season.

One question that still would be a big decision for the Liberty is the future of Natasha Cloud. The former champion was effective for the side but not impactful or a match-winner. She is still a ‘necessity’ for the franchise, as evidenced by comparing Ionescu’s effectiveness without the ball and with the ball. Having a starter point guard will never hurt the franchise, but she should also fit in the available cap space.

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