NEW YORK, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The New York Liberty, who finished 11th in last WNBA season, lost its season opener 81-80 at home on Friday night to the Indiana Fever, who finished 12th last season.
Teaira McCowan, the third pick in the WNBA Draft 2019, hit the game-winning field goal under basket at the buzzer to gift Indiana the stunning win. The WNBA rookie collected 11 points in the game.
Tiffany Mitchell led Indiana with 22 points and her free throw with two minutes and 16 seconds left in the fourth quarter gave Indiana a 79-78 lead.
However, Liberty's power forward Tina Charles, who scored game-high 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, hit two free throws to lift her team to an 80-79 lead with only seven seconds left in the fourth quarter.
After the time-out, Indiana's core Candice Dupree drove the lane and dished it off to McCowan, who laid it in just before the buzzer sounded.
The referees did a video review and confirmed the validity of the two points.
Han Xu, the Chinese national team center who was selected by Liberty in the WNBA Draft 2019 in April, played 65 seconds in the third quarter of today's duel without scoring.
Han told Xinhua after the match, "I feel lucky to have a chance to play in the WNBA arena which is quite different from that of WCBA or the national team. I'm still learning and I need more time to adjust myself to the new atmosphere."
Liberty head coach Katie Smith told Xinhua, "For Han Xu, it is still a learning process. She is fine and gets better day by day, just continues to learn and grow."
In the other match on the opening day of the new season, Atlanta Dreams beat Dallas Wings 76-72 at home.
Liberty's next game will be on June 1, still against Fever but on road.
