Brooklyn, NY— The New York Liberty punched their ticket to the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship game on Sunday afternoon, using a dominant defensive performance and a strong second-half surge to defeat the Washington Mystics 86-64 at Barclays Center.
Breanna Stewart led the way with a historic all-around effort, finishing with 14 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high seven blocked shots as New York improved to 10-4 on the season and extended its winning streak to seven games.
The victory guarantees the Liberty a spot in the league’s in-season championship game, although New York will have to wait to learn both its opponent and whether the title matchup will be played in Brooklyn. Hosting rights will be determined by which finalist finishes with the better overall record.
While Stewart anchored the defense from start to finish, it was Jonquel Jones who took over offensively after halftime. The former MVP scored 20 points, including 17 in the second half, helping the Liberty pull away after Washington threatened to keep the contest close.
New York also welcomed back one of its biggest stars. Sabrina Ionescu returned to action after missing seven games because of back soreness, receiving a thunderous ovation from the Barclays Center crowd when she entered the game midway through the opening quarter.
Although she was eased back into the rotation, Ionescu immediately impacted the game with her playmaking. She delivered several pinpoint passes in the first quarter, including one that set up Leonie Fiebich for an open three-pointer that helped the Liberty establish early control.
The Liberty carried a 36-28 lead into halftime behind Stewart’s remarkable first-half stat line. The two-time MVP recorded 11 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks before intermission, becoming just the second player in WNBA history to post at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in a single half.
For the first time this season, New York had its full roster available, a welcome sight for a team that has battled injuries throughout the opening months of the campaign.
Washington remained within striking distance early in the third quarter before Liberty interim coach Chris DeMarco called a timeout to settle his team. The break proved pivotal.
Coming out of the timeout, Jones ignited a decisive run by scoring seven consecutive points. She poured in 12 points during the third quarter alone as New York stretched its advantage into double figures and seized complete control of the game.
The Mystics, who entered the contest riding the momentum of a dramatic last-second victory over Toronto, were unable to generate enough offense to mount a serious comeback. Washington managed to cut the deficit to six points briefly but never threatened down the stretch as New York’s defense tightened.
Michaela Onyenwere paced the Mystics with 17 points, but Washington struggled to find consistent scoring against a Liberty defense that blocked shots, controlled the glass and limited second-chance opportunities throughout the afternoon.
The victory further solidified New York’s position as one of the league’s top contenders and showcased the potential of a fully healthy roster. With Stewart dominating on both ends of the floor, Jones providing a second-half scoring punch and Ionescu back in the lineup, the Liberty appear to be rounding into championship form at the right time.
Up Next:
Washington (5-7) travels to Connecticut on Wednesday looking to bounce back from the loss.
New York heads to Chicago on Wednesday before turning its attention to the upcoming Commissioner’s Cup championship game.
