To get in, you’ll want your ID. Present it to the doorman, after which take the elevator. Flip left. There’s a white door down the corridor; in there, a digicam crew is crammed wall-to-wall. There are portraits of former Brooklyn Nets gamers in every single place, however that’s not who everyone seems to be looking at proper now…
“EVERYBODY ON MUTE!”
Jonquel Jones, the charismatic New York Liberty star, belts out the lyrics to Beyoncé’s “Power,” a track off her Renaissance album. It’s August, and we’re all inside a workroom-turned-glam room on the Nets follow facility, the place Jones, Breanna Stewart, Betnijah Laney, Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot—the Liberty’s beginning 5—have spent the previous hour or so getting their hair and make-up achieved earlier than the large second: their first-ever SLAM cowl shoot collectively as a newly-formed squad. The vitality contained in the room is a bit hectic, as videographers and producers shuffle out and in, checking to see if our cowl stars are prepared.
Nearly. However for the primary of many occasions right this moment, we’ve acquired Beyoncé lyrics to sing. After JJ, who’s sitting proper subsequent to Sab and close to Betnijah, cues everybody to go silent (an iykyk pattern tied to Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour), the music continues.
“Go searching, it’s me and my crew. Huge vitality…”
In one of many salon chairs, a hair stylist is ending curling Breanna Stewart’s lengthy, brunette locks. Sitting close by, Courtney Vandersloot is getting eyelash extensions and smiling to herself as she covers one eye, noticing the distinction. Sab is the primary one prepared for images, and we comply with the All-Star guard throughout the corridor to the follow courtroom, which has been become a set with a white seamless backdrop and tons of studio lights.
Off to the aspect, there’s a desk stuffed with classic goodies—old-school digital cameras, an precise flip digicam and a polaroid digicam—which Sab instantly gravitates to as soon as she’s achieved posing for flicks. It’s then that we learn the way a lot of a woman’s lady she is, which is internet-speak for somebody who respects and values their feminine friendships. One minute Sab is hyping her teammates up, the following she’s posing Sloot for her personal photo-op second with a glass of champagne that somebody introduced on set.
This is identical Sabrina we as soon as topped the “Subsequent Queen of New York” on the quilt of SLAM 231, however who mentioned a queen has to rule alone? Sab got here into the W because the NCAA’s all-time chief in triple-doubles, the No. 1 total choose in 2020 and, undoubtedly, probably the most common younger gamers within the League. Then the crew signed Betnijah Laney forward of the 2021 season, and since then, pleasure has been steadily constructing in Brooklyn. Now, with Sab, Laney, JJ, Stewie and Sloot main the way in which, the New York Liberty are the No. 1 crew within the East at 32-8—the franchise’s finest regular-season file ever.
Whereas the media pushes the narrative that the WNBA has entered a “superteam period,” historical past reveals that superteams ain’t new within the W. The Houston Comets gained the primary 4 championships within the League’s existence between ’97-2000, after which the L.A. Sparks gained back-to-back ’chips in ’01 and ’02. The next 12 months, the Detroit Shock gained their first title after which one other one in ’06. The Minnesota Lynx gained 4 titles in seven years between 2011-2017.
To name this Liberty squad a superteam makes it sound like they’re a machine that’s been programmed to dominate, relatively than a gaggle of ladies who’ve come collectively and determined—each individually and collectively—that they wish to be one of the best.
“I feel we’re simply tremendous people,” Sab says when requested in regards to the superteam label. “I simply really feel like all of us have a narrative to inform, and we’re all at such totally different components in our careers, however once we all come collectively, that’s actually the enjoyment in being a part of a crew.”
Greatest present in Brooklyn. SLAM 246 that includes the New York Liberty is out now.
The story of how this squad joined forces didn’t begin with Stewie—JJ was technically the primary to affix the Libs when she was traded again in January—however Stewie’s free company announcement did shock the world. It was one factor for the Liberty to have a brand new famous person in JJ, however when Stewart began posting these emoji-filled tweets, everybody, together with Kevin Durant, was hyped. One other star teaming up with JJ?! “They cookin’,” KD mentioned on his podcast, The ETCs. “They bringing one of the best expertise to New York.”
Then, on February 1, Stewie pulled a transfer harking back to when Yoncé dropped Lemonade: she posted solely a Statue of Liberty emoji and a video of her switching right into a teal-colored lengthy sleeve warm-up shirt. Only a day later, Courtney Vandersloot pulled her personal WNBA insider second by tweeting that she’d additionally signed with the Libs. To place in perspective simply how loopy elite a trio of Stewie, JJ and Sloot is, we’re speaking three WNBA titles, 14 All-Star appearances, seven First Group All-WNBA alternatives and three All-Defensive First Group alternatives, plus Stewie’s two Finals MVPs, common season MVP and Rookie of the Yr title, Jonquel’s Sixth Lady of the Yr award and Courtney Vandersloot’s place within the file books (she’s ranked second all-time in assists). They’re all undoubtedly future Corridor of Famers.
Nonetheless, it’s loopy to suppose that there was a time when Stewie’s determination nearly didn’t occur. “I used to be backwards and forwards so much, actually,” Stewie tells us. “It was between Seattle and New York.
“The three of us [Sloot and JJ] had been speaking so much throughout free company,” she continues. “But additionally realizing who was on the Liberty earlier than us and that’s Sab and B ensuring that we wish to come right here to win.”
Now that she’s in Brooklyn, Stewie has continued to solidify her rightful place as probably the most versatile gamers to ever play the sport. She was out right here setting data on day one, actually—in her Barclays Heart debut in opposition to the Indiana Fever, Stewie scored a franchise-record 45 factors. She’s presently averaging a career-high 23.3 factors per sport (second within the W) and as soon as once more being talked about within the MVP dialog.
On set, Stewie is poised and exudes a cool and picked up kind of confidence; she’s even rocking her personal signature sneaker, the Stewie 2s, in all of the images. For the following 10 minutes, the 6-4 star is simply as concerned within the inventive as she is in being the principle topic. She poses with the camcorder and asks if we’ve acquired a pair of sun shades she will be able to throw on, too. The lights find yourself inflicting an excessive amount of glare on the silver shades, however with only some minutes left to get the right shot, she shines the brightest. At one level Stewie turns and stares immediately into the lens together with her blue eyes, giving us that look. Lights flash as our photographer snaps away. Pop! Stewie tilts her chin down, this time holding her gaze. Pop!
All through her seven years within the W, Stewie has achieved all of it: gained championships and MVPs, been the face of the Storm alongside the legendary Sue Hen. At this level, what fuels her to maintain taking part in at such a excessive degree?
“Mine might be perspective,” the previous UConn Husky says when requested about her supply of motivation. “Clearly loving to win and loving to compete, but additionally realizing that these moments don’t final without end, and having a glimpse of that by means of an harm. A few of us have been by means of accidents the place we’ve needed to be out for seasons and stuff like that. So, by no means taking something with no consideration, but additionally realizing that I’ve Ruby at house, trying as much as me [and] watching each single transfer that I do, and ensuring that I’m persevering with to assist make this crew and this League higher for her if she desires to play, but additionally the following era.”
Stewart and JJ entered the WNBA in the identical 12 months, 2016, because the No. 1 and No. 6 picks, respectively, and have performed collectively abroad on UMMC Ekaterinburg. For JJ, her transfer to New York occurred after a commerce request previous to the beginning of the 2023 season. “I didn’t know who was becoming a member of me but,” Jones says. “After I checked out it, I used to be like, no matter who joins me, I really feel actually stable with that call.”
Now that she’s discovered her groove with the Liberty, JJ has reached one other degree: she’s had 11 double-double performances to date and simply dominated within the Commissioner’s Cup Championship in August with 16 factors, 15 rebounds and a pair of blocks, all whereas capturing an environment friendly 50 p.c from the sector. She shines on set, too, cracking jokes and flashing her ever-present smile in a lot of the images we take. The crew’s PR particular person asks if we wish photos of her together with her Commissioner’s Cup MVP trophy, and because the 6-6 ahead holds her newest achievement, that smile will get even wider.
“I’m very glad to be in New York and be taking part in with these women,” she says.
Sloot additionally needed to belief within the imaginative and prescient when it got here as to whether she’d depart Chicago, the place she spent over a decade with the Sky and set quite a few data, or take her abilities east. At first, she admits she was hesitant. “To be frank, I used to be looking for a cause to not [leave] as a result of the transfer to New York was simply, like, by no means within the playing cards for me,” she says. “The extra it went on, the extra conversations I had in fact with these women right here, the possession and training workers and every part, it was similar to, this is a chance that I can’t cross up on. That is what I work for. That is what I dreamed [of].”
As one of many smoothest, coldest flooring generals within the W over the previous decade, Sloot’s led the League in assists per sport yearly since 2017, except for final season. Once we caught up together with her for this cowl, she had simply handed Ticha Penicheiro for second all-time in assists.
That is what I work for. That is what I dreamed [of].”
– Courtney Vandersloot
It was throughout the playoffs final season that Sloot noticed what she was in for—the vitality and environment in Barclays, the followers and, most notably, what sort of squad the group was constructing. “We had been the away crew, in fact, and all people’s cheering in opposition to us, however I nonetheless [remember] simply this vitality and I used to be similar to, Wow, that is superior. They’re actually constructing one thing right here…You may inform they had been in a extremely good place, they had been on an upward…”
“…trajectory,” JJ chimes in.
“Thanks, JJ,” Sloot continues. “I simply needed to be part of it, and I do not forget that it was such a recent feeling for me once I was within the free company talks.”
That trajectory wouldn’t have been attainable with out Betnijah and Sabrina serving to set the muse. B, who’s in her eighth 12 months within the W, wants no introduction, and he or she definitely didn’t have to make one to her new teammates. Drafted in 2015, only a 12 months earlier than Stewie and JJ, she performed with Stewie for USA Basketball and attended varied camps after they had been youthful. She was a rookie on the Sky when Sloot was in her fifth season and suited up alongside JJ in Connecticut in 2018.
“For me, the chemistry and every part, it simply form of got here naturally,” she says.
JJ felt it, too. Whereas she admits that she “didn’t know Sabrina that properly” initially, she did attain out to her earlier than deciding to return to New York. Since becoming a member of forces, JJ’s been impressed with how properly they’ve gotten alongside. “I’ve been so amazed with simply how properly our personalities mesh on the crew,” she says. “That’s actually like my little sister, like we’re all the time goofing off collectively, all the time doing foolish stuff.”
Sabrina, averaged 17 factors, 5.6 boards and 5.4 dimes for the season, has dropped 30-pieces on quite a few events and practically broke the web together with her near-perfect efficiency throughout the All-Star Three-Level Contest in July. Return and watch the highlights. Discover her strategy, her type, her confidence. When she will get to the appropriate nook, Sab smirks. It’s clear she’s having enjoyable. The gang goes insane and the digicam pans to Sloot, who’s equally as hyped. All of us simply witnessed, in real-time, one of many League’s brightest younger stars go 25 of 27 from three and break the competition file for each the WNBA and NBA. That’s pure star energy proper there.
She wasn’t achieved breaking data both. Within the Liberty’s 96-89 win over the Sparks on September 7, marking the crew’s eighth straight victory, Sab broke the WNBA single season file for whole threes (121), which was set by the GOAT Diana Taurasi in ’06.
“I’m actually proud to only watch the way in which that [Sab] has grown on this League,” JJ says. “Simply the extent that she has been taking part in at this season has been wonderful.”
Then there’s Betnijah, who exemplifies what it means to remain assured and true to who you might be, each on and off the courtroom. After having a breakout season in 2020 whereas on the Atlanta Dream—together with profitable Most Improved Participant and being named to the All-Defensive First Group—Laney has elevated her sport on each ends of the ground since signing with the Liberty in 2021. Look past the field rating and easily watch the way in which she strikes from the second she will get the ball, pulling off behind-the-backs and spin strikes harking back to a 6-0 dancer (Laney took ballet, faucet and jazz courses when she was a baby).
Together with her physicality and fast instincts on protection, Laney’s usually tasked with guarding the opposite crew’s finest participant, too. Her position, as head coach Sandy Brondello informed WNBA.com, is to be the “engine that will get everybody going.”
Provides Stewie: “I’ve recognized B for a extremely very long time, and the way in which she is as a two-way participant, making issues actually tough, profiting from no matter matchup she has offensively but additionally [being a] defensive stopper. Laborious-nosed participant, by no means stops, does [the] soiled work, does regardless of the crew wants.”
Betnijah additionally has a manner of commanding any room she’s in. On set, it’s B’s present when she poses in entrance of the digicam—without having any path from our photographer, she effortlessly switches angles and stares deeply into the lens. To cite one among her favourite artists, Beyoncé, Betnijah’s giving I’m that lady vitality with every hair flip. Having spent the previous three years in Brooklyn, B is aware of what town is about, from the meals scene (she’s acquired a complete record of one of the best meals spots) to the way in which New Yorkers carry themselves. “Brooklyn individuals simply present up,” she says. “That New York environment, that gritty, [it’s] loud, [they’re] into it, they’re backing us. They’ve proven up and confirmed out, and so it’s form of a give and take. We’re giving them a present [and] they’re fueling us.”
Collectively, Laney and Sab have been on the forefront of what the Liberty have been constructing towards. With a brand new crew dynamic and roster modifications, it might’ve been straightforward for egos to get in the way in which of the Libs’ success this season, but it surely’s truly been fairly the other. “It’s actually exhausting to place a crew with this a lot star energy collectively and for it to succeed,” Sabrina says. “However I feel when you have got gamers that aren’t solely taking part in for themselves however taking part in for each other, and from the start, we’ve all dedicated to taking part in for each other and desirous to see one another reach no matter it’s that that particular person desires.
“And we’ve actually been purchased into that as a result of I feel to our core, that’s simply who we’re as people, and I feel that’s why we’re taking part in the way in which we’re and we’ve been having the season that we have now been having in such a brief period of time [despite] probably not realizing one another and taking part in with one another for thus lengthy, ’trigger it’s simply who we’re. And we’ve actually stayed true to that.”
As a lot as this story is about them, our cowl stars aren’t the kind of individuals to make issues all about themselves. Ask Betnijah about her “why” and what motivates her and he or she brings up her niece, JJ (who she calls “Little JJ” when she’s round Jones), and the way she desires to proceed to “encourage [and] be position fashions.” Huge JJ desires to win, however she additionally desires to succeed for her household and all of the individuals “who’ve sacrificed” to assist her get to the place she is right this moment. Sab brings up the method, and the way they’re capable of “look again” and see how a lot the group has grown.
They’re all taking part in for one thing larger than themselves. As they appear to carry a championship to Brooklyn, all of them acknowledge that this crew represents the brand new period of the W. An period of participant empowerment, of ladies making energy strikes. “I’ve clearly been within the League for a very long time, and for thus lengthy there wasn’t quite a lot of participant motion and there wasn’t quite a lot of this,” Sloot says. “Stewie touched on it, our capacity to form of management our careers and do what we wish, create this buzz. Ladies’s basketball is at an all-time excessive proper now, so why not benefit from that? Take management of our careers, do what we wish, be the place we wish. And for all of us, that was right here.”
For Stewie, it’s easy. “Everybody,” she says, “is chasing greatness.”
SLAM 246 COVER TEES AVAILABLE NOW
Welcome to The Stars Align Tour. Think about this New York Liberty SLAM 246 Cowl Tee as our official “tour merch” because the Libs proceed dominating the WNBA.
Cowl Story: Deyscha “Sway” Smith
Photographer: Marcus Stevens
Cowl Design: Lester Padilla
Cowl Shoot Producers: Sway, Sole Ortiz Ruiz, Arvind Pitchai
Video: Eli Selva
Intern: Haben Fessehazion
Graphics: Erica Davis, Abdel Kyle Traore
SLAM Social: Arvind Pitchai
WSLAM Social: Sole Ortiz Ruiz, Mya Peterson
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