Leonie Fiebich is normally fairly stoic on the court docket for the Liberty.

But taking part in her first recreation in seven weeks Saturday, Fiebich let down her guard and let it out.

She roared to the crowd 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 harm, said she was “suffering a lot” over the previous week when she felt like she could play but was held out by the group’s efficiency workers.

But Fiebich’s presence was felt all through Saturday’s recreation.

She was the connective tissue the group wanted on both ends.

To be sincere, Fiebich didn’t anticipate having as massive a efficiency as she finally 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 group’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 taking pictures when Fiebich was the major 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 may have allowed 102 factors to the league’s greatest offense.

Caitlin Clark appears to be like to make a cross 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 higher defensive efforts of the season.

Fiebich’s return aided the group’s defensive efforts. But the group 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 study anything about the group’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.”