The New York Liberty have stormed out of the gates to begin the season with a 5-0 begin. They’ve appeared each bit a staff able to repeating as WNBA champions after being topped winners final season, and are coming off an 82-77 win in opposition to the Golden State Valkyries Thursday night time.

Breanna Stewart led the best way for the Liberty, racking up 27 factors, most of which got here from the free throw line, going 15 of 19 from the charity stripe. It was a dominant efficiency from Stewart, and after the sport teammate Sabrina Ionescu jokingly in contrast Stewart’s free-throw efficiency to not too long ago named NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Liberty coach Sandy Brondello was requested if she’s ever seen a participant take 19 free throws earlier than, and as she was answering Ionescu jokingly mentioned “SGA,” in reference to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been known as a free-throw service provider and foul baiter for his means to get to the road. It has pissed off opponents, most not too long ago the Minnesota Timberwolves, who the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder beat within the Western Convention finals to get to the NBA Finals. Nevertheless, whereas SGA could get fouls that are not all the time warranted, it is extra a product of what officers are deeming fouls.

Stewart has routinely gotten to the free throw line typically, however it’s not as a result of she’s initiating contact hoping the officers will blow the whistle, it is as a result of staff’s have an extremely tough time defending her and in an effort to restrict her it normally ends in a foul.

Whereas SGA and Stewart get to the free throw line otherwise, they share the truth that each of them are virtually unguardable, and now that Gilgeous-Alexander was named MVP, in addition they have comparable {hardware} of their trophy case. Maybe they’re going to have extra in widespread if Gilgeous-Alexander can lead the Thunder to the staff’s first NBA title in June.