There are two ways to view the Liberty, which is getting ready to start the second half of the season after their Olympic break.
For those who believe the Liberty, who didn’t have a player on the U.S. Olympic team that just won gold in London, are not a good team, their 6-12 record is an accurate reflection of that fact.
But for those who believe this is a talented team that was decimated by injuries in the first half of the WNBA season, the fact that every player got to rest during the Olympic break bodes well for a second-half turnaround.
The players and fans won’t have to wait long for an answer. The Liberty return from their Olympic break to play host to the Eastern Conference-leading Connecticut Sun (15-4) Thursday night in Newark at 7:00 on MSG.
A win would inspire plenty of confidence the Liberty can make a run at a playoff spot. They currently sit in fifth place, one spot of out the final playoff berth. A loss, and, well, there will be more grumbling their porous first half was no fluke.
“I don’t have a doubt that we are going to be in it,” forward Plenette Pierson said. “We’re definitely not counting ourselves out.”
Pierson, whom The Post has learned, received a multi-year contract extension that will be announced today, is the player that best represents the Liberty’s first half. She missed the final eight games with a knee injury. But before getting hurt, Pierson was averaging 11.2 points and 4.9 rebounds, better than her career averages of 9.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
“My leg feels great and I am ready to go,” said Pierson. “Every team has a rough patch and we had ours. We had a lot of players playing out of position. I like our chances.”
lenn.robbins@nypost.com