In the Scrum: European Reunion (Part 1)
Highlighting Liberty players who had a stint in EuroLeague this past season
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Avid watchers of European women’s basketball this past year are likely excited about the makeup of the Liberty’s roster. Four players in particular that stand out are:
Leonie Fiebich of Spain’s Zaragoza & Liga Femenina Endesa MVP
Kennedy Burke of France’s Villeneuve D’Ascq & Ligue Féminine de Basketball (LFB) MVP
Nyara Sabally of Czechia’s USK Praha
Ivana Dojkić of Italy’s Virtus Segafredo Bologna
Not only did they participate in EuroLeague this past season, but they were crucial in their team’s successes. In Part 1 of In the Scrum: European Reunion, we highlight Kennedy Burke and Nyara Sabally.
Budding Friendship
Burke and Sabally were part of the first group of players to arrive at training camp. Their recent EuroLeague history makes their current pairing in New York a bit ironic. In the EuroLeague Women Final Four, Burke’s Villeneuve D’Ascq defeated Sabally’s USK Praha, 84-78.
However, they have developed a rapport since both arrived in Brooklyn.
“So when we were in EuroLeague, we obviously didn't get the chance to really talk and interact because we were going against each other,” Burke said. “But now that we’ve had the chance to talk and get to know each other, it's been pretty cool. She's a fun, outgoing girl, she's open to have any type of conversation and I appreciate that. I feel like the fact that she was able to do that, I then opened up to her. We still have a long season ahead, and I feel like our friendship is just going to grow, not with just her but with everyone else.”
Sabally echoed the same positive sentiments regarding her and Burke’s bond.
“She's a really good person and good player,” Sabally said. “I didn't know her prior to that, but I knew of her, obviously. It’s kind of as if we knew each other for a long time. Maybe the time playing against each other has kind of helped, because you feel like you know the person already.”
Their rapport even extends to each player's goals for this season, namely maximizing their contributions to the team in their given roles. Sabally and Burke come off the bench, supporting the starting lineup of Courtney Vandersloot, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones.
The Early Burke Gets to Work
Burke understands the contributions she makes or doesn’t make will play a role in the team’s success.
“Whenever I get on the court, I just want to be a spark,” she said. “Whether it's offense or defense, I just want to get into the game. I just want to be that person, where someone will say ‘Even though she probably didn't score as much, she was still a threat on the defensive end.’ I just want to be that person.”
On June 2, Burke was that spark against the Indiana Fever. Coming off the bench, Burke had 10 points, three steals, and three blocks in front of a raucous Barclays Center crowd.
“Whenever I step on the court, I just have to be ready,” Burke said about her performance. “I feel like I did a good job today, and I hope I can just keep being that player whenever my name is called.”
Burke has primarily come off the bench this season, averaging 9.7 minutes per game and providing wing relief to either Laney-Hamilton or Kayla Thornton. Given Burke’s status on ESB Villeneuve-d'Ascq (ESBVA) as the leading scorer and French league MVP, one may wonder about Burke’s transition from consistent starter to role player. For Burke, staying positive is the key.
“I think, just staying optimistic,” Burke said. “I knew that my role was going to change coming into this team. So, I know that no matter what, I just have to stay ready, see the better things and just be positive. I know some days, they're going to be tough, tougher than others, but it's part of the process of becoming a great basketball player. So just trusting the process.”
Burke’s experience in European league finals is an asset for the Liberty. ESBVA competed in the past two LFB Finals, and made a magical run to the EuroLeague Women Final this year, ultimately falling to Fenerbahçe. Burke had the experience of playing in one of ESBVA’s two LFB Final appearances and the EuroLeague Final. Although she didn’t compete in ESBVA’s LFB championship-winning series this year due to Liberty commitments, Burke was a part of the team for most of the year.
“I feel like just whenever you step on the court, you have to be ready to play for 40 minutes,” Burke said, referring to the similarities contending teams have.
Burke is part of a Liberty team that is looking to avenge its Finals loss to the Las Vegas Aces last season. She understands that her readiness will be crucial to helping the Liberty compete.
“I know for me, with the role that I have on the team, I'm going to have less minutes than I do overseas,” Burke said. “So I know that no matter what, when I come on the court, to be ready, always be aggressive. If I have to be a spark on offense or defense that's what I have to do.”
As Burke progresses through the season, she will have a collective of fans from France and New York cheering her on.
“I feel the support from the fans here and in France, they’re both amazing,” Burke said. “This [Barclays Center] is an atmosphere that's completely amazing and has that support for women's basketball, which is such a beautiful thing.
Das Wunderkind
Nyara Sabally has taken a noticeable leap from last year. With more minutes, Sabally’s numbers are up across the board. Entering training camp, she had one goal in mind.
“Just be more consistent,” Sabally said. “I would say being more consistent in my role and helping out as much as I can and doing whatever the team needs me to do.”
Sabally averaged 18 minutes per game at USK Praha, 10 more than in her rookie season with the Liberty. She credits the uptick in minutes to her development as a player.
“I think it helped a lot. Not just from a confidence aspect, but getting game reps, being able to be out there and play at a high level,” Sabally said. “I think that will really help and hopefully translate into this season.”
One noticeable area is Sabally’s defensive activity. Effective on switches, hedges, and other basketball actions, Sabally has also made a dent statistically. In each of the season's first five games, Sabally turned back a shot at least once. Some players blocked include Aliyah Boston, Angel Reese, NaLyssa Smith, and Skylar Diggins-Smith. Also, she stole the ball at least once in six of her first eight games of the season.
For Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello, Sabally is using the tools already at her disposal.
“I think it's something that she's very capable of,” Brondello said on Sabally’s early defensive output. “I don't think it's anything new. I think it's just getting [her] comfortable where she can be aggressive. She's an athlete. She anticipates the game well, and she has confidence. I think that certainly helps her and she's big for us. Hopefully, we can continue to grow her role. She's been a really, really valuable player for us and she gets better and better every game.”
Offensively, Sabally has made the most of her minutes this season, ranking in the league’s top 10 in points per play and points per scoring attempt. Having quality facilitators like Ionescu and Vandersloot helps, too. Both combine for five assists out of Sabally’s 10 field goals made this season.
Sabally’s burst could not come at a better time for the Barclays faithful. Some of her best games this season have come at home:
May 23 vs Chicago: Eight points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal, one block
May 18 vs Indiana: Seven points, five rebounds, two steals, two blocks
Now entering her second year playing in seafoam season, Sabally understands what the Barclays Center crowd provides.
“There’s just this type of feeling when you come in here,” Sabally said. “It's like, no matter where you're from or what you believe, it's just a melting pot, basically. I feel like that's also our team, that's the city and what the city is known for. For me, I feel like that's a culture. I grew up in this melting pot culture coming from different cultures. So it's something that makes you feel comfortable. The moment you step into here, everybody, all the workers, all staff, everybody's so nice and so welcoming. So, I feel like that's a big aspect of what the fans bring to this team.”
Fans and the organization look forward to Sabally’s growth and development in Brooklyn. She and Burke could provide New York with the extra firepower to help secure its first-ever WNBA championship.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of In the Scrum: European Reunion, which will highlight Leonie Fiebich and Ivana Dojkić.
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.