Mohegan — With numerous roster changes and a new coach in charge, the Connecticut Sun have undergone a makeover of sorts since appearing in the WNBA Finals last season.

Their identity, which was on display in the preseason opener on Wednesday, basically remains the same.

Their aggressive, physical style of play, especially on the defensive end, bothered the New York Liberty on the way to a 63-57 victory at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Head coach Stephanie White set the tone on the first day of training camp.

“Our first practice, they even got us into a huddle and were saying, this is our expectation that we need to be elite defensively and we need to make our presence known defensively,” said Rebecca Allen, one of several newcomers on the team. “So I think that’s something we’ve taken on board. If you come in here, you can’t be soft.

“It’s maintaining that for four quarters, for sure.”

The Sun forced 20 turnovers and held the Liberty to 36 percent from the field. They seized the lead for good with a 19-0 run in the second quarter that helped build a 34-21 edge at intermission and then held on down the stretch.

They made their presence felt with their ball pressure, toughness and intensity.

“I suppose some of us were just surprised by the physicality,” New York coach Sandy Brondello said. “I’m like, `Really? This is Connecticut.’ ”

New York’s off-season moves continue to generate plenty of buzz.

With the addition of two-time WNBA finals most valuable player Breanna Stewart, all-star guard Courtney Vandersloot and former Sun star Jonquel Jones, the Liberty have become the preseason favorite to win the title. All three players sat out Wednesday’s game.

Connecticut, on the other hand, received far fewer rave reviews for its moves that included bringing in two former UConn standouts in Tiffany Hayes, a 10-year WNBA veteran, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa, as well as Allen, a former Liberty player.

They all made an impact on Wednesday.

Nelson-Ododa had in nine points and five rebounds in a team-high 20 minutes while Allen, a versatile wing, had nine points, six rebounds, two assists and three blocks and Hayes finished with six points in 12 minutes.

In her second year in the WNBA, Nelson-Ododa is still learning the pro game. She scored all of her points in the third quarter to help push the Sun’s lead to 51-33.

“It felt good just getting my feet wet with this new team and just getting back in the groove of things,” Nelson-Ododa said. “It just feels good to be out there and just get a feel for my teammates and how they move and operate as well.”

Wednesday’s game represented another step forward for Allen, who’s bouncing from an injury-plagued year. She joined Hayes, Brionna Jones, Alyssa Thomas and Natisha Hiedeman in the starting lineup.

“It’s an emotional thing for me, coming back and playing this game,” Allen said. “I don’t think anyone will ever know what the mental side of that last injury has been for me. To come back and play honestly with confidence is something that I’m super proud of. I also love that I’ve got the support from everyone here.”

While Connecticut has added some valuable depth to its roster, the Sun are still anchored by returning veterans Thomas, Jones, Hiedeman and DeWanna Bonner, although Bonner didn’t play against the Liberty. Jones had a team-best 10 points, four rebounds, two steals and one assist in 18 minutes.

White will build around them.

On Wednesday, White experimented with different combinations and went deep into her bench. Chemistry is still a work in progress.

“Obviously, we understand what our veterans and returners can do,” White said. “Now, for us, it’s about finding the right pieces around them for our staff, building rotations, continuing to build on the things that we’re implementing in practice and see it in live action.

““I’m proud of how our team competed. It was good just to get out on the floor and get them some experience. … Everybody that got minutes came in and impacted the ball game in some way, shape or form.”

As far as the Sun’s defense, White feels good about that.

“We’ve got a chance to continue what this franchise has been known for in terms of defensive toughness,” she said.

• Following the game, the Sun announced the release of three rookies — guard Alexis Morris (LSU), forward Ashten Prechtel (Stanford) and guard Diamond Battles (Georgia). Morris (second round) and Prechtel (third round) were draft picks while Battles was signed to a training camp contract.

g.keefe@theday.com