Leonie Fiebich has big night time, shows rare emotion…
Leonie Fiebich is normally fairly stoic on the court for the Liberty.
But enjoying her first sport in seven weeks Saturday, Fiebich let down her guard and let it out.
She roared to the gang after changing an and-1 layup that gave the Liberty an 81-72 lead.
“I don’t know what happened there,” Fiebich said after the Liberty’s 109-102 win over the Indiana Fever. “Honestly, doesn’t happen often … I just had some, it’s just a natural reaction. Really happy that it was going well for us, I feel like we needed a little bit of energy to just lay it out.”
Fiebich, who hadn’t performed since July 3 because of a left foot injury, said she was “suffering a lot” over the past week when she felt like she might play but was held out by the crew’s efficiency workers.
But Fiebich’s presence was felt throughout Saturday’s sport.
She was the connective tissue the crew needed on both ends.
To be trustworthy, Fiebich didn’t anticipate having as big a efficiency as she in the end did.
Leonie Fiebich performs protection during the Liberty’s 109-102 win over the Fever on Aug. 22, 2026 at Barclays Center. NBAE via Getty Images
“I knew that I wanted to have an impact defensively,” she said, “because that’s what we need and just help the team in whatever way.”
Fiebich did that and more.
She scored or assisted on 32 of the crew’s factors.
Leonie Fiebich saves a unfastened ball during the Liberty’s win over the Fever. NBAE via Getty Images
She also restricted Caitlin Clark to 2-for-7 capturing when Fiebich was the first defender.
“It sucks to not be on the court, to have to watch,” said Fiebich, who completed with 20 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. “It was good to actually be on the court and help the team. That’s all I want to do. So I was really happy that I could do that today.”
The Liberty could have allowed 102 factors to the league’s best offense.
Caitlin Clark appears to be like to make a go around Leonie Fiebich during the first half of the Liberty’s win over the Fever. AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis
But New York still felt it was one of its better defensive efforts of the season.
Fiebich’s return aided the crew’s defensive efforts. But the crew felt it was more in sync on protection.
“We were all really locked into it today,” Rebecca Allen said. “That connected piece is huge for us and it’s something we really need to maintain.”
Overall, Breanna Stewart said she didn’t be taught something about the crew’s protection against the Fever.
“I knew what our defense could be like,” Stewart said. “I’m just excited to continue to build. Better late than never, I guess. But now it’s just really important how we finish this season.”
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