WASHINGTON — Leonie Fiebich is a not-so-secret stabilizer for the Liberty.
She by no means will get too excessive or too low. She doesn’t at all times put up the flashiest numbers.
Her defensive efforts can go unappreciated by the typical eye.
However to not her teammates.
She will rating, however she is aware of her position on a staff loaded with offensive firepower.
In Friday’s 85-63 win, although, with the Liberty gassed from enjoying a sport the night time earlier than, Fiebich got here in and did precisely what the Liberty wanted from her.
Fiebich performed her finest sport of the season.
She scored 12 factors on 4-for-5 capturing (2-for-3 from deep) and contributed 9 rebounds, three blocks and an help.
It was the kind of exhibiting coach Sandy Brondello has come to count on from her German ahead.
“Every day, you know what you’re going to get day-in and day-out,” Brondello stated of Fiebich. “We appreciate that. She loves defense; she’s so versatile. But you can see that. She was shooting 3s. She was cutting. She was posting out. So it was great for us.”
Jonquel Jones known as Fiebich a defensive anchor of the staff. She will guard the opposing staff’s finest guards or wings, utilizing her size and athleticism to close them down.
“She’s someone that we’re not worried about that matchup,” Jones stated. “We understand that she can go out there and just be really productive in that sense, but it’s something that maybe other people overlook but we don’t overlook it on our team. We understand how valuable she is to us.”
Backup middle Nyara Sabally stays sidelined with a proper knee situation.
Friday marked the fourth sport Sabally missed this week after discomfort flared up in her surgically repaired knee whereas warming up for the Liberty’s sport at Indiana.
Brondello has stated Sabally is “fine” and has expressed warning with not eager to rush Sabally again to the ground earlier than she’s prepared.
“Hopefully, she’s back by Sunday,” Brondello stated pregame. “She’s making progress but we want to make sure she’s feeling 100 percent.”
Sabally did a person exercise Thursday and has been capturing, Brondello stated.
However concern surrounding Sabally’s knee continues to develop the longer she stays out.
Jones recorded her fourth double-double of the season Friday and twenty sixth since becoming a member of the Liberty earlier than the 2023 season.
Jones grabbed 18 rebounds, her most in a regular-season sport since 2019. She additionally scored 14 factors.
The Liberty have but to lose when Jones posts a double-double.
