Sabrina Ionescu's big night gives New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello a winning debut

The Sandy Brondello era in Brooklyn started off on a high note, as the New York Liberty took down the Connecticut Sun 81-79 Saturday in the team's season opener behind third-year guard Sabrina Ionescu's 25 points.

«It's a great win for us at home,» Ionescu said. «We had a great crowd. Super excited to be able to start the season off like that.»

Brondello, the former longtime Phoenix Mercury coach, took over this past season in New York, which also saw some personnel changes with the free-agency acquisition of Stefanie Dolson and returns of Jocelyn Willoughby, Han Xu and A.D. Durr.

2021 WNBA All-Star Betnijah Laney and DiDi Richards missed the game with injuries, as did Bec Allen, who is still playing overseas, but Brondello was pleased with how the team started the 2022 campaign despite those absences.

«We weren't quite sure what we would get on the offensive end. I knew what we'd get on the defensive end. I think this team is tough, and I think you see the style of play that we wanted to play,» Brondello said. «We competed with one of the best teams in the WNBA. We're both missing players, obviously, we had to dig deep.

»For me, it's always nice to win your first game, and the fans can get to see what we're trying to do here… a bit of relief, I suppose."

Ionescu, the 2020 No. 1 pick, was one of four Liberty players to reach double figures, scoring or assisting 41 of New York's points and finishing with a fairly efficient clip (10-for-18 shooting including 3-for-6 on 3s). Her six assists ensured she recorded her fourth career game with at least 25 points and five assists, the third-most in Liberty history.

«I think it was really just the patience and poise of our offense that led a lot of us to easy shots and shots that