‘Hungry’ Liberty, Cappie Pondexter will pose challenge to Sky

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Both the Sky and the New York Liberty have a new head coach, a new style of play and a new identity. And both teams are looking for consistency as they prepare for tonight’s matchup at Allstate Arena (7:30).

The Sky (2-1) has won back-to-back games after dropping its season opener at Indiana. Because of odd early-season scheduling, the Liberty’s two losses have come against teams it also has beaten ­— the Fever and the Atlanta Dream.

‘‘They’re coming off a tough loss against Atlanta,’’ Sky coach Pokey Chatman said. ‘‘They’ll be hungry because they didn’t necessarily have a good showing. They’ll try to carry some of that momentum and anger coming into here.’’

The Sky’s biggest challenge will be preparing for Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter, the former Marshall High School and Rutgers star who helped lead the Phoenix Mercury to WNBA titles in 2007 and 2009. Pondexter has a career scoring average of 19.6 points per game, but she’s off to a slow start this season and is shooting only 39 percent from the field.

Chatman said she plans to start Epiphanny Prince on Pondexter, but she’ll rotate a number of defenders to her throughout the game.

‘‘You don’t put that pressure on one player,’’ Chatman said. ‘‘It’s going to involve our whole defense. It’s a lot easier said than done. Everybody comes in with the same idea of trying to limit Cappie. You don’t necessarily stop her — you hope to limit her.’’

Is Fowles the best?

Sky center Sylvia Fowles is off to a fast start, thanks in part to the team’s hot outside shooting. The Sky leads the league in three-point shooting at 47 percent, which has opened up room in the paint for Fowles, who’s averaging 18.7 points through three games, tops among WNBA centers and fourth in the league overall.

So, is she the best big in the league?

‘‘I’m going to go with Syl every time,’’ Chatman said. ‘‘She’s got to know she’s capable of being the best center in the league because she can dominate on both ends of the floor. She allows a defense to gamble a little bit more because she can alter shots. That’s why I think she can be a dominant player, even with some of the things that don’t show up on the stat sheet.’’

Notes

Rookie point guard Courtney Vandersloot is averaging 5.3 assists per game, fifth in the WNBA.

† Even though Pondexter is the Liberty’s best-known player, she’s currently third on the team in scoring. Essence Carson averages 15.8 points per game and Plenette Pierson 14.2 to Pondexter’s 13.3.