The defending champions are off to a rocky start — and we're getting into all of it. Journalist & w omen’s  sports pioneer Ari Chambers joins Gotta Get Up! to break down what's really happening with the New York Liberty in 2026.

We're taking a calm, clear-eyed look at the Liberty's 3-4 start — from player performance and roster construction to life under new head coach Chris DeMarco. 

Are Liberty fans right to be worried, or is this a classic early-season overreaction? Ari helps us separate the noise from the real concerns.

And we can't let Ari leave without talking New York basketball at large — because the Knicks just swept the Cavaliers to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. We're getting her take on what it means for the city.

Plus — you might not know this, but Ari's connection to the Liberty runs deep. Before she was covering women's sports on ESPN, she was a member of the Liberty's Torch Patrol. We're going there.
In this episode:

🗽What the Liberty's 3-4 record actually tells us — and what it doesn't
🗽Player performance and roster questions through the early stretch
🗽What to make of Chris DeMarco's first weeks as head coach
🗽Ari's days on the Liberty Torch Patrol — and what it taught her about this league
🗽The Knicks are going to the NBA Finals — what does Ari think?

🎙️ Guest: Ari Chambers —  Forbes 30 Under 30, SI's 100 Most Influential Women in Sports, former New York Liberty Torch Patrol member

🔴 Join us LIVE Tuesday at 7:30 ET — drop your questions and reactions in the chat!

Thumbnail photo credit: Brandon Todd/New York Liberty

#NewYorkLiberty #WNBA #WNBA2026 #AriChambers #GottaGetUp #LibertyBasketball #WNBATwitter #NewYorkLiberty2026 #WomensSports #WNBAToday #NYKnicks #KnicksNation #NBAFinals #NBAFinals2026

Recorded live on May 18th, 2026

The Liberty are shorthanded — but reinforcements are on the way. 🗽
We're breaking down everything you need to know about the injury and availability situation surrounding New York's most anticipated players of 2026.

Sabrina Ionescu has been out since rolling her left ankle in the preseason finale against the Connecticut Sun, and while the MRI avoided a "significant" diagnosis, she's missed the first several games of the season. 

The good news? 
She's been back at practice and trending toward a return. When does she step back into the lineup — and what happens to the rotation when she does?

Then there's Satou Sabally — one of the most hyped free agent signings in Liberty history and "The Unicorn" still hasn't played a single minute in blue and orange. She's been sidelined with a cyst, but she too has reportedly been participating in practice. What's the realistic timeline for her debut?

And on the arrivals side: Leonie Fiebich just helped Valencia win the Spanish League championship — so Leo's coming back with even more hardware. 

Meanwhile, Raquel Carrera is also wrapping up her overseas commitment with Valencia before making her way stateside. When can we expect them in the rotation, and what does the roster start to look like once everyone's finally healthy?

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ABOUT THE SHOW

Get your weekly New York Liberty fix with hosts Erica L. Ayala and Brian Fleurantin!

Sabrina Ionescu is dealing with an injury — and we're not going to sugarcoat it. We break down what we know, what it means for the Liberty's season outlook, and how concerned Liberty Nation should really be.

But there's still a lot to be excited about. Two preseason games in, we take stock of where this team stands — what's clicking, what still needs work, and which players are making a strong case for themselves heading into the regular season.

Speaking of which: roster cuts are coming. We get into who's fighting for a spot, who's likely safe, and who could be on the bubble as the Liberty finalize their 2025 squad.
It's a big week for Liberty basketball. 

Let's get into it.

🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss a live episode of Gotta Get Up!
👇🏽  Drop your questions and takes in the chat — we want to hear from Liberty Nation!

LIVE  - April 27, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. ET

The W is back, and we are RIGHT here for it. 🗽

We kick things off with a full breakdown of Saturday's preseason opener at Barclays — the Liberty dropped a 109-91 decision to the Indiana Fever, but honestly? There's a lot to unpack beyond the final score. 

Han Xu lead all Liberty scorers with 20 points in her return to Barclays Center, while Breanna Stewart dropped 16 points and grabbed five rebounds in just TWELVE minutes. 

Caitlin Clark made her return to WNBA action, rookie Raven Johnson turned heads in a big way, and we got our first real look at this new-look Liberty roster with Satou Sabally in the mix.

 We're talking about what we saw, what we liked, and what we're not reading too much into (because it's the preseason, people).

Then we get into the conversation Liberty fans have been waiting on. At Sunday's media day, GM Jonathan Kolb broke the organization's silence on Natasha Cloud — calling her a New York legend, pushing back hard on the narrative that her activism had anything to do with her not returning, and explaining what really happened during free agency. 

We're giving you the full picture, our honest reactions, and the bigger question hanging over all of it: where does Tasha land, and what does the league owe her?

00:00 Preseason strategy and shooting focus

16:33 Han's basketball growth and communication

30:19 Utilizing Caitlin Clark's versatility

31:07 Utilizing star player's impact

46:29 Satsu Sabali's playoff impact

56:25 Discussing Natasha Cloud's future prospects

01:08:37 Considering team futures and player longevity

01:15:45 Developing young players for success

01:26:19 Trusting Sabrina with leadership

01:41:25 Liberty's past struggles and improvements

01:55:15 Revamping the LA Sparks team

02:04:31 Liberty's potential and league dynamics

02:10:58 Natasha Cloud's absence and roster changes

This one's for the real ones. Drop your thoughts in the comments — we read everything.

🗽 Subscribe so you never miss an episode
🔔 Hit the bell for Liberty content all season long

#NewYorkLiberty #WNBA #NatashaCloud #GottaGetUp #LibertyNation #WNBAPreseason #CaitlinClark #JonathanKolb

Training camp is open, and the New York Liberty look nothing 
like the team that lost in the first round to Phoenix a year ago.

Brian is LIVE on the scene as the DeMarco era officially begins 
at Barclays Center — and we have a lot to talk about.

🏀 WHAT WE'RE GETTING INTO:

🗽 THE DeMARCO ERA BEGINS
Four NBA championships. Thirteen years with the Golden State 
Warriors. Now he's the 10th head coach in Liberty history. 

Chris DeMarco called this job a "no-brainer" — but what does his system actually look like on the floor? Brian is at camp and we're breaking down first impressions, what's different, and whether a Warriors-influenced system works with this roster.

🗽 THE NEW LOOK LIBERTY
Stewie is back. Sabrina is back. JJ is back. But the roster around them looks very different. Satou Sabally is in Brooklyn after helping Phoenix knock the Liberty out in 2025. Raquel Carrera and Pauline Astier are new faces. And several core pieces from the championship run are gone. What does this team actually look like — and is it better?

🗽 WHERE IS TASH CLOUD?
Natasha Cloud — three-time All-Defensive Team, 2019 champion, 10.1 points and 5.1 assists per game in seafoam last season — is currently not on any WNBA roster. A week before Opening Night. 

She broke her silence on Threads Sunday: "I've given my heart to every team and community I've been part of." 

• How does a player of her caliber end up here? 
• Is the salary cap structure under the new CBA the real issue? 
• Is this about fit? 
• Is there still a team that makes sense? 

We're not just asking the question — we're answering it.

📋 THE FULL 2026 LIBERTY TRAINING CAMP ROSTER:
Returners: Fiebich, Gardner, Ionescu, Johannès, Jones, Stewart

Previously with the Liberty: Allen, Han, Laney-Hamilton

New arrivals: Satou Sabally, Raquel Carrera, Pauline Astier, Marine Fauthoux

Note: Stewart, Johannès, and Erdoğan join next week following the EuroLeague Women's Final Six. 

📬 Subscribe to the WBB Roundup — twice-weekly women's basketball coverage in your inbox: https://wbb-roundup.beehiiv.com/

🏀 Subscribe to Gotta Get Up! so you never miss a live show: https://gottagetuppod.transistor.fm/

🕗 LIVE: Tuesday, April 21 at 7:30 PM ET

#NewYorkLiberty #WNBA #GottaGetUp #NatashaCloud #ChrisDeMarco #LibertyNation #WomensBball #BlackRosieMedia #WBBRoundup #LibertyTrainingCamp

The New York Liberty are BUILT DIFFERENT this offseason — and Erica L. Ayala and Brian Fleurantin broke it all down on this week's Gotta Get Up, the podcast for New York Liberty fans brought to you by Black Rosie Media.

Satou Sabally is headed to Brooklyn on a multiyear deal, reuniting with former Oregon teammate Sabrina Ionescu and forming one of the most loaded frontcourts in WNBA history alongside Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones. 

But how does the elder Sabally sister actually FIT? 
Is the Liberty roster too big? What happens when Stewart and Sabally both need to play the four? A
nd what about the concussion that cost her the 2025 Finals — can we really count on her staying healthy?

We also got into the fan favorites whose statuses are still up in the air:
🗽 Natasha Cloud — Tash is an unrestricted free agent. She expressed interest in staying in New York, but the cap math is getting tight. Does she come back? And was she even the right fit?

🗽 Betnijah Laney-Hamilton — BLH missed ALL of 2025 with a torn meniscus. She's a reserved player — meaning she can ONLY negotiate with the Liberty — and she's been counting down the days on her Instagram. The Brooklyn faithful want her back. So do we. What's the update?

🗽 Marine Johannès — The French fan favorite appeared in every single game in 2025 when everyone else was hurt. She's received a qualifying offer from New York. Is she back? What's her role on a suddenly crowded roster?

Plus: new head coach Chris DeMarco, what this roster means for the 2026 championship chase, and whether the Liberty can finally get past the Aces.
👀 Championship or bust? 

🎙️ Gotta Get Up is the podcast for New York Liberty fans, hosted by Erica L. Ayala and Brian Fleurantin, brought to you by Black Rosie Media — credentialed at the table for the WNBA Draft, WNBA Finals, Paris Olympics, and more.

📬 Subscribe to the Women's Basketball Roundup newsletter — twice weekly WBB coverage delivered to your inbox: https://wbb-roundup.beehiiv.com/

00:00 Commissioner fields questions at draft
06:18 Discussing lineup strategies and teaching
13:56 Satu's impact on the team
18:46 Deciding on adjusting playing time
24:26 Sabrina's role in the 2024 season
27:57 Sabrina's improved driving skills
37:05 Discussing player lineup strategies
40:31 Impact of a longer roster
47:51 Managing player minutes and competition
49:54 Focus on flexible, switchable lineups
58:30 Discussing offensive rebound strategies
01:02:04 Discussing Kia's role on the team
01:09:23 Discussing Indiana's defensive needs
01:13:17 Social media and WNBA engagement
01:16:28 Emma Messiman's challenging season in NY
01:21:09 Beck Allen's return and team dynamics
01:30:52 Adjusting to new team dynamics
01:33:49 Discussing Stewie and New York Liberty
01:41:41 WNBA podcast schedule update
01:43:47 Podcast outro and thanks

Women's basketball is moving FAST right now — and we have a LOT to say.

Join Brian and Erica for a special Gotta Get Up! livestream breaking down one of the biggest weeks the sport has seen in years. The New York Liberty lost Nyara Sabally to the Toronto Tempo in the WNBA expansion draft. UCLA just claimed its first-ever NCAA championship. WNBA free agency is about to open. The draft is days away. We are not taking a breath.

Here's what we're getting into:

🏀 LIBERTY LOSE NYARA SABALLY TO TORONTO
🏆 UCLA WINS THE 2026 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
💸 WNBA FREE AGENCY — THE LANDSCAPE
📋 2026 WNBA DRAFT PREVIEW

💬 YOUR QUESTIONS LIVE IN THE CHAT
Drop your takes, questions, Liberty concerns, and UCLA celebrations. We're here for all of it.

📰 Not subscribed to the WBB Roundup yet? It's our twice-weekly women's basketball newsletter — and if this week's news is any indication of what this season is going to look like, you need it in your inbox. Subscribe for free at blackrosiemedia.com.

🎙️ Gotta Get Up! is a podcast for New York Liberty fans, part of Black Rosie Media — a women's sports media company covering women's basketball and women's hockey with the depth they deserve.

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Is the New York Liberty’s championship window still open heading into 2026? 

Gotta Get Up tackles the team’s future as the WNBA’s new CBA rewrites the rules of engagement. Hosts Erica L. Ayala and Brian Florentin break down the potential impacts of increased max salaries, the introduction of developmental roster spots, and vital changes for player movement—including trade protection clauses for pregnant players. 

They weigh in on the franchise’s strategies with Brianna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, Banijah Laney Hamilton, and Natasha Cloud all in the free agency and expansion draft mix.

Reactions to a fast and furious off-season, a Final Four recap, and the looming arrival of new expansion teams—like the revived Houston Comets—keep the stakes high. Can Chris DeMarco steer the Liberty through roster shake-ups and a longer season? 

The show examines what the Liberty must do to remain true contenders as they chase glory in the WNBA’s milestone 30th season.

🏀 In this episode:
🗽Elite 8 recap from the NCAA Women’s Tournament
🗽What the new WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement means
🗽Free agency, roster questions, and key decisions ahead
🗽What has to happen for the Liberty to contend again in 2026

With a new coach, major roster uncertainty, and the league celebrating 30 seasons, this is a pivotal moment for New York.

00:00 Elite Eight recap and draft preview

03:23 UConn vs. Notre Dame matchup

07:04 South Carolina's offensive improvement

12:54 Lauren's growth and mindset

15:53 Intro and topics for today's episode

18:01 New collective bargaining agreement

19:48 Key updates in new CBA

23:15 WNBA salary updates and rookie pay

28:37 Connecticut Sun's history and legacy

30:08 WNBA award payouts increase

35:13 Discussing J.J.'s contract options

38:40 Team dynamics and Cloud's value

41:06 Elite Eight discussion and free agency

44:05 Navigating leadership during negotiations

48:26 Questions about Chris DeMarco's readiness

51:30 Preparing for the upcoming season

53:57 Looking ahead to WNBA season

56:09 Outro

To win a championship, you need depth. That's precisely what New York Liberty had, especially with Kennedy Burke in the rotation.

Join Erica L. Ayala and Brian Fleurantin to understand how Kennedy Burke's reliability propelled the Liberty toward their first WNBA title.

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Blue Sky (BRM): https://blackrosiemedia.bsky.social

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Blue Sky: https://elindsay08.bsky.social

Brian Fleurantin
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ABOUT BLACK ROSIE MEDIA

Black Rosie Media is a community for Black women and melanated creators in sports media.

We are committed to showing up as advocates for the visibility of Black women and creators of color through original content, events, partnerships, and more. Our goal is to create a space online where Black women and other BIPOC creators are celebrated, appreciated, and equitably compensated for their work.

Not only is Black Rosie Media a community for Black women and melanated creators, but it's also a standalone media conglomerate giving these creators a platform for their work. We are a space for news, game coverage, and creative sports content.

#wnba #newyorkliberty #womensbasketball

Is Courtney Vandersloot staying with the New York Liberty or heading elsewhere? 🏀 The GGU Crew dives into this burning WNBA question with raw & unfiltered thoughts! 🚨 Join us LIVE for real-time reactions, in-depth analysis of Courtney's free agency decision, and what this means for the Liberty's future. 

We’re breaking it all down—her role, stats, and what she’s looking for in free agency. Plus, we’re talking New York Liberty’s roster moves and who might step up to fill the gap. It’s all happening with interactive live chat, where YOUR thoughts shape the discussion. 

Don’t miss this basketball watch-along for Liberty fans and WNBA lovers alike. Join us LIVE to find out! 🗽🔥

#unrivaledbasketballleague #unrivaled #unrivalednews #courtneyvandersloothighlights #satousabally

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
01:14 - Vibe Check
04:31 - Courtney Vandersloot 2024 Season
10:36 - 2025 Season Outlook for Courtney Vandersloot
14:05 - Value Comparison: Courtney Vandersloot's Impact
16:16 - Raising the Standard in Women's Basketball
19:45 - Satou Sabally Analysis
20:40 - CBA Negotiations Overview
21:50 - Newsletter Sign-Up
24:23 - Courtney Vandersloot's Free Agency Preferences
29:50 - Unrivaled Schedule Issues
31:47 - Where Will Courtney Vandersloot Play Next?
42:09 - Available Guards for New York Liberty
47:52 - Marine Johannes vs. Courtney Vandersloot Debate
53:17 - Unrivaled Discussion
57:20 - In-Person Experience Recap
01:01:15 - Media Day Highlights
01:17:40 - Impact of the 2-Year Bug on Sloot?
01:25:03 - Ellie Wave