NEW YORK – In a historic night at Barclays Center, the New York Liberty solidified their status as a top contender for the 2024 WNBA championship, defeating the Chicago Sky 85-66. This victory marked them as the ninth team in the league’s 28-year history to achieve a perfect start with nine consecutive wins.
Ionescu and Stewart Lead the Charge
Sabrina Ionescu continued to prove why she’s considered one of the WNBA’s premier point guards, delivering a stellar performance with 23 points and seven assists. Teammate Breanna Stewart, the reigning MVP, was equally impressive, contributing 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in a well-rounded display.
“We know starting the season like this is special,” Ionescu said post-game. “But we can’t get complacent. Every game matters just as much.”
Dominance from the Start
The Liberty set the tone early, opening the game with a 12-0 run that left the Chicago Sky struggling to respond. A standout moment in the first half came when Kennedy Burke drained a three-pointer from the corner off a no-look pass from Ionescu with just 1.4 seconds remaining, giving the Liberty a commanding 52-32 lead.
The first half saw an explosive performance from the team’s stars, with Ionescu scoring 14 points and Stewart adding 13, laying a strong foundation for the win.
Sealing the Victory
The Liberty maintained their dominance, closing the third quarter with an 11-0 run and starting the fourth with six straight points, pushing the score to 76-42 and extinguishing any hopes of a Sky comeback
Kennedy Burke finished with 15 points, including three successful three-pointers, while Nyara Sabally made an impactful debut, scoring nine points in 15 minutes in place of Jonquel Jones, who was sidelined with an ankle injury.
Chicago Sky: Bright Spots Amid Challenges
Despite the lopsided loss, the Chicago Sky (2-6) showed flashes of promise. Angel Reese delivered a steady performance with 17 points and 11 rebounds—her best of the season—marking her 30th career double-double in just 42 games, a WNBA record for the fewest games to reach that milestone.
Another memorable moment came from rookie Hailey Van Lith, who sank her first career WNBA three-pointer with 1:09 remaining in the game.
Bad News for Chicago
In unfortunate news, the Chicago Sky announced that Courtney Vandersloot—formerly a key player in the Liberty’s championship win last season before returning to Chicago this year—suffered a torn ACL, confirmed by an MRI. This significant injury will heavily impact the Sky’s plans for the remainder of the season.
Looking Ahead
With a 9-0 record, the New York Liberty are proving they are not only the reigning champions but also a team capable of defending their title. The seamless blend of veteran experience and young talent is making the Liberty a formidable force.
The Chicago Sky, plagued by 22 turnovers in this game, must quickly regain their rhythm to stay competitive in the playoff race. Losing Vandersloot is a major setback, but with talents like Angel Reese, they still have potential to turn things around.
The Liberty will look to extend their unbeaten streak in their next game, while the Sky need to regroup swiftly to avoid falling further behind in the fiercely competitive 2024 WNBA playoff race.