The New York Liberty triumph over the Dallas Wings with a score of 79-71, securing their eighth consecutive victory and maintaining their position as the league's top team.
The outcome secured an eighth consecutive victory for the Liberty, now sitting at the summit of the Eastern Conference with an outstanding 25-4 record, setting a new record for the team's best start in 29 games in their history.
Leading the charge was two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart, who scored a joint game-high 19 points. Despite a below-par shooting night, going 5-for-18 from the field and missing all three of her three-point attempts, she nailed nine free throws. Stewart also contributed seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Injuries kept three-time All-Star Sabrina Ionescu and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton sidelined, but the Liberty found a way to secure the victory despite shooting a dismal 35.1% from the field as a team. Four of their players still managed double-digit scores.
Post-game, head coach Sandy Brondello admitted, "It wasn't a pretty game. We didn't shoot well and were missing a few key players, but we found a way to win, which shows a lot about this team."
Brondello's team quickly took a 9-3 lead, with Stewart contributing six points in the opening four minutes. However, the Wings staged a comeback to end the first quarter with a 17-14 advantage. The Liberty took the lead in the second quarter and entered halftime with a slim three-point advantage, as both teams fought tooth and nail throughout.
New York kicked off the second half with a 7-0 run, bolstered by a powerful offensive rebound and putback from Kayla Thornton.
Dallas rallied back to keep the game close, taking a 56-55 lead with 6:47 remaining, thanks to Arike Ogunbowale's three-point play. For the remainder of the fourth quarter, the two teams remained neck-and-neck, but the Liberty pulled away with a late 9-2 run.
The win marked a significant boost for New York, making them the first team to secure a postseason berth on Saturday.
"Sometimes, you have to grind out wins," stated Brondello. "We stayed together and that's a testament to this team's chemistry – even in adversity and not playing our best, there was no finger-pointing, and it's more like 'Let's just do this now and find a way.'
"They're always lifting each other up, patting each other on the back, and encouraging each other. As long as we have that, we're in a great position."
German rookie Leonie Fiebich set a new career-high with 16 points for the Liberty, while Thornton also contributed 16. Jonquel Jones notched 13 points and 13 rebounds for her 11th double-double of the season and her 90th career double-double, becoming the eighth player in league history to reach such a milestone.
Ogunbowale, who ranks third in the league in points per game, scored 19 points for Dallas, with Natasha Howard adding 16. Despite her strong performance, Howard accounted for seven of the team's 14 turnovers and fouled out of the game.
The defeat left the Wings with a 6-22 record, tied for the bottom spot in the WNBA with the Los Angeles Sparks and Washington Mystics.
This victory in sport further solidifies the Liberty's dominance in the Eastern Conference. Despite facing challenges, the team's unity and focus on winning are commendable aspects of their sporting performance.
