Marine Johannès is back to doing what she does best—making magic on the court—and the New York Liberty are reaping the rewards. In a thrilling overtime battle against the Washington Mystics on Sunday, Johannès reminded everyone why she's one of the most electrifying players in the WNBA.
The Liberty escaped Washington with a 98-93 victory in front of a fired-up crowd at CareFirst Arena for DC's 2026 home opener on Mother's Day. It wasn't pretty, but it was a statement win for a team still finding its rhythm.
Head coach Chris DeMarco summed it up best: the Mystics, with their youthful energy and fearless style, are never an easy out. They've shown time and again that they can go on explosive runs, and Sunday was no different. Washington ripped off 11 straight points at one stage, led by as many as eight, and controlled the game for over nine minutes, including deep into the fourth quarter.
But the Liberty weathered the storm, and in the process, they got a glimpse of just how impactful Johannès could be this season.
The French guard, known for her flair and creativity, was on fire early. She started 5-for-7 from beyond the arc before cooling off, missing her final four three-point attempts in regulation. But when it mattered most, she delivered. In overtime, Johannès drilled her sixth three-pointer of the night—tying her career high—to put New York up 90-86 at a critical juncture. That shot also set a new personal scoring record of 25 points.
Then, with just 24 seconds left and the Liberty clinging to a two-point lead, Johannès made the play of the game. She poked the ball away from Sonia Citron, forcing it out of bounds off the Mystics guard, effectively sealing the win. New York iced it from the free-throw line.
Johannès has been on a tear to start the season. Through two games, she's already knocked down 11 three-pointers, setting a Liberty franchise record for most threes in the first two games of a season. That's the kind of hot streak that can elevate a team from good to great.
The Liberty (2-0) faced a much stiffer test than in their season opener, a 106-75 blowout of the Connecticut Sun in Brooklyn. And they're doing it without two superstars—Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally—as well as key contributor Leonie Fiebich. New York is far from full strength, which had some wondering if they might stumble out of the gate.
The dominant win over Connecticut was a promising start. This gritty overtime victory? That's the kind of win that builds championship character. With Johannès weaving her wizardry, the Liberty are showing they have big things ahead.