In a thrilling matchup at Brooklyn’s iconic Barclays Center, the Liberty dominated the Atlanta Dream 83-69 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. Rookie sensation Leonie Fiebich stole the show, dropping a career-high 21 points to lead her team to victory. The German phenom shot an impressive 7-for-8 from the field, including a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot etched her name in the record books, surpassing Sue Bird as the WNBA’s all-time playoff assist leader. Vandersloot broke the record with a beautiful lob pass to Breanna Stewart, who finished at the rim with ease. The historic assist marked Vandersloot’s 365th playoff helper.
“It’s an incredible feeling to be among the best,” Vandersloot said humbly. “Sue Bird is a legend, and to have her in attendance made it even more special.”
Stewart, who played alongside Bird in Seattle, praised Vandersloot’s exceptional court vision. “Courtney has an uncanny ability to set up her teammates for success. She’s one of the greatest to ever do it.”
Fiebich’s impressive debut was complemented by strong performances from her teammates, with four Liberty players scoring in double figures. Stewart added 20 points, while Vandersloot chipped in with four points and three assists.
The top-seeded Liberty can advance to the semifinals with a win in Game 2 on Tuesday night. Fiebich, who replaced Vandersloot in the starting lineup, has been a valuable asset for the Liberty all season. The 24-year-old German native has played in every game this season, averaging 6.7 points and shooting an impressive 43.3% from three-point range.
“Leonie’s a great shooter, and I love when she’s aggressive and taking shots,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. “She only missed one shot today, and that’s something she can work on tomorrow.”
As Fiebich continues to make waves in the WNBA, she remains humble and focused on her team’s success. When asked how to say “on fire” in German, she laughed and replied, “I think we just use English words in basketball, so ‘on fire’ works just fine!”
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