Isabelle Harrison didn’t hesitate.
In a 12 months that the ahead has emerged as a key piece off the Liberty bench, and on an evening when she poured in a season-high 13 factors throughout their win over the Fever, Harrison stated that is the perfect she has “ever” felt.
She began enjoying with out her knee brace in June.
She carved out an elevated position when an ankle harm sidelined Jonquel Jones, and her greatest sport of the 12 months even occurred the evening Jones returned.
And after lacking all of 2023 as a consequence of meniscus surgical procedure after which fighting the Chicago Sky in 2024, Harrison, lastly, has settled right into a rhythm with the Liberty over the previous month — averaging 8.0 factors throughout 14.6 minutes per sport since June 27.
“Like, quite simply, this is like the best I’ve felt since ever,” Harrison stated. “I bear in mind my Dallas [Wings] days have been actually nice as a result of I had like a very superb crew, however clearly these video games have been laborious. We had some powerful moments, however I simply suppose proper now, it’s identical to I’m so pleased the place I’m.
“I don’t want to get emotional, but I’m really, really blessed to be here.”
Harrison’s strides have been evident Tuesday, when she shot 5-of-6 in opposition to the Fever and drew an and-one in opposition to Aliyah Boston late within the fourth quarter.
She pinpointed the Liberty’s prolonged highway journey in June as a turning level, when she didn’t play a lot the primary two video games (solely 9:57 whole), however then watched as her position on a contender grew.
By the point the Liberty arrived again house, Harrison had a “different mindset” from observing fueled by aggressiveness, and he or she survived one other knee harm scare July 6 by solely lacking one sport.
“I wanted to be that person to step in, in place for JJ,” Harrison stated.
The subsequent step, she stated, will revolve round constructing on her particular person momentum from earlier than the All-Star break.
Round making certain she stays a reliable scoring possibility on the roles or drives that comply with screens.
Round persevering with to play freely on the courtroom after ditching the brace that “was holding me back in a way” and proving to go coach Sandy Brondello — her coach as a rookie in Phoenix 9 years in the past, who Harrison stated performed a task in her present Liberty alternative — that “she made a good decision” to take an opportunity.
It took time and a few adjusting to a brand new system and a brand new position, however the model of Harrison that the Liberty envisioned has began to emerge.
“From the beginning, whether she was playing no minutes or to now playing a lot of minutes, she’s just stayed consistent in her work ethic, her leadership, how she continues to unite us and be a voice in the locker room — especially for the bench players,” Sabrina Ionescu stated Tuesday. “… No matter when your number’s called, you’re ready. And she’s done it.”
In her first minutes with the Liberty, Stephanie Talbot, a veteran ahead who performed for Brondello in Phoenix and with the Australian nationwide crew, went scoreless with three turnovers in simply 4 minutes Tuesday.
She added an help and a steal.
After shootaround Tuesday, Talbot, who was waived by the Golden State Valkyries and signed with the Liberty this week, stated she desires to “do those little things that in moments they’ve been lacking.”
