Five questions for WNBA champion Liberty going forward

The Liberty finally are WNBA champions after all these years, becoming the last original franchise from 1997 to grab hold of the trophy.

Their thrill ride ended happily after they worked overtime Sunday night against Minnesota at Barclays Center. Now let’s look beyond Thursday morning when the ticker tape is going to be descending on them along the Canyon of Heroes.

Here are five questions about the Liberty going forward:

1. OK, how about a repeat?

Sandy Brondello was one happy coach after Game 5, sitting on the riser at the front of the interview room alongside Breanna Stewart, Finals MVP Jonquel Jones and Nyara Sabally, with their sparkling wine bottles on the table in front of them.

“Hey, let’s not stop at one, though,” Brondello said. “Let’s go for two.”

Can they win it again? Why not?

Surely, repeating won’t be easy. Winning this one wasn’t easy. The series against Minnesota could have gone either way, including the finale.

Four of the five games were decided by five or fewer points,  with two going to OT. The Liberty led the other game — Game 2 — by only two points with 3 1/2 minutes left before pulling away.

But they should have much of the core group back that produced the league’s best regular-season record at 32-8. Younger players such as Sabally and Leonie Fiebich should continue to improve. And they should have some newcomers.

2. What is Stewart’s situation?

Stewart is an invaluable piece of the puzzle as an all-time great. The 30-year-old forward also is the biggest name with an expiring contract.

The two-time MVP and three-time WNBA champ seems to like it here and isn’t yet seeking a long-term deal.

Stewart, who’s a WNBA players association vice president, wants to see the CBA situation sorted out first. The union chose to opt out of the CBA on Monday. Higher salaries should be coming via negotiations. As of now, the current CBA terms are in play for next season.

“I’m under a one-year [deal] and I’m going to sign another one-year [deal],” Stewart said at practice the day before Game 3 in Minnesota. “Just so I can continue to have that kind of flexibility going forward.”

3. Who’s going to be a Valkyrie?

The Golden State Valkyries will be working on their roster for next season on Dec. 6 when the WNBA holds its expansion draft.

Teams can  protect only six and can  lose only one at the most. Kayla Thornton could be a potential pick for Golden State. The 32-year-old forward has been a valued role player, featuring 3-and-D ability. She has brought toughness and energy mostly from the second unit.

4. Will Sabally have an expanded role?

Sabally was the fifth overall pick in the 2022 draft. The 6-5 reserve center/forward out of Oregon has had injury problems, including having to sit out 2022 because of a knee issue.

But she announced her candidacy for increased minutes next season by playing a major part in the Liberty’s Game 5 victory, delivering 13 points and seven rebounds in 17:27.

“The biggest game of her career and she really rose to the occasion,” Brondello said. “ . . . The future is pretty bright.”

5. Will Courtney Vandersloot be here?

Vandersloot came in off the bench for only 3:03 in the clincher.

Before the Finals, the 35-year-old point guard told Newsday that this was “the hardest season I’ve ever had personally.” Her mother died in June and  she lost her starting spot the day before the playoffs.

Vandersloot had good moments in her new reserve role. What’s ahead? We’ll have to see.