TEAM NOTABLES
On Sunday, the New York Liberty (24-6) defeated the Indiana Fever (8-23), 100-89, setting a new franchise record in single-season wins with their 24th win of 2023.
Including Breanna Stewart’s 42-point performance, three of the New York Liberty’s four 40-point games in franchise history have come against the Indiana Fever. Further, three of the franchise’s now four 40-point games have come this season – all by Stewart.
Heading into Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Cup Final, New York’s starting lineup of Vandersloot, Ionescu, Laney, Stewart, and Jones has an offensive rating of 119.3 through 27 contests, marking the best offensive rating in WNBA history of any five-player lineup to play a minimum of 300 minutes.
In retrospect, the team’s 119.3 offensive rating is currently better than that of the starting lineup of the NBA-record 73-9 Golden State Warriors from 2015-16 (118.3).
Today’s victory marked a franchise-record fifth 100-point game and set the Liberty’s franchise-record road winning streak (seven consecutive games).
New York also recorded a season-high 32 assists, tying the record for the second-most single-game team assists in franchise history.
At Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Liberty finished on 51.4% (37-72) shooting from the field, 41.4% (12-29) from three and 73.7% (14-19) at the free throw line.
Up Next: The New York Liberty will take on the Las Vegas Aces in the Commissioner’s Cup Championship game on Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 9 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
KEY RUNS
Q1: There were no significant runs in the opening quarter.
Q2: New York went on a 20-8 run from the 9:15 mark of the second to the 3:32 mark of the first half.
Q3: New York went on a 17-6 run from the 9:09 mark of the third to the 3:10 mark of the quarter. Indiana went on a 16-6 run from the 2:57 mark of the third to the 9:16 mark of the fourth quarter.
Q4: There were no other significant runs in the final quarter.
PLAYER NOTABLES
New York finished with four double-digit scorers in today’s game (Stewart, Jones, Laney, Ionescu).
Highlighted by a 30-point first half, Stewart finished with a game-high 42 points on 65.2% (15-23) shooting from the field, including 50% (5-10) from three, six rebounds, six assists and three blocks. This is just the second game in WNBA history of at least 40 points, six rebounds, six assists and three blocks on at least 60% shooting from the floor. Stewie has now recorded two of the four games of at least 40 points, six rebounds and six assists on at least 60% shooting from the floor in WNBA history.
Stewart’s 30-point first half tied the WNBA scoring record for points in a half, eclipsing her previous career-high of 29 points, set against the Fever on May 21.
With her 42-point performance today and third 40-point game of the season, she became the first player in WNBA history to record three 40-point games in a season and the third-ever to have three-plus career 40-point games.
Jonquel Jones totaled 15 points on 50% (5-10) shooting from the floor, 66.7% (2-3) from deep, 12 rebounds and three assists, marking her 10th double-double of the season and eighth in the Liberty’s 12 games since the All-Star break.
Betnijah Laney finished with 12 points on 62.5% (5-8) shooting from the field, including 50% (2-4) from deep, four rebounds and three assists.
Sabrina Ionescu added 10 points, four assists and two rebounds. With her first three-pointer at the 9:21 mark of the first, she became just the third player in WNBA history to make 100 threes in a season.
With her 10th assist at the 1:08 mark of the second, Courtney Vandersloot set a new Liberty single-season franchise record for assists. She ultimately finished with four points and a season-high 14 assists. Today marked her 11th career game of 14-plus assists.
For Indiana, Kelsey Mitchell finished with 22 points and three assists, while Aliyah Boston added 17 points, nine rebounds and five assists.