By Shara Taylor
The New York Liberty were prepared for one of their biggest matchups of the season as they took on and defeated the 2022 WNBA Champions the Las Vegas Aces in a competitive match at the Barclays Center Sunday afternoon.
It would be no easy match for the Liberty as the Aces were in first place Sunday with a 24-2 record and with the WNBA’s 2022 MVP A’ja Wilson on their team, but New York has been successful in their own right and prior to the game sat second place with a 21-6 record, their best start in franchise history. New York started the game strong and came back after halftime with even more fervor, scoring and defense to defeat Las Vegas 99-61.
“We didn’t win a championship today,” Liberty’s Coach Sandy Brondello said after the game referring to the joy she would have in that moment. “We played a really good game so I’m really really happy.”
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She said there is still more work to be done as they prepare for their next game against the Chicago Sky.
Las Vegas scored first, but it didn’t take long for New York to get into a groove. Guard Courtney Vandersloot scored the Liberty’s first shot of the game with a driving layup with 8:27on the clock as New York trailed 4-2.
Both teams were aggressive making shot for shot.
About 53 seconds remained in the first quarter when Liberty forward Jonquel Jones received a flagrant foul as she accidentally elbowed Wilson between the head and neck as she turned to shoot. Wilson left the court to be evaluated but returned to shoot her free throws and then left to go to the locker room. New York trailed 22-19 at the end of the first quarter.
A 2-point shot from Sabrina Ionescu pushed the Liberty ahead of the Aces 23-22 in the second quarter. She followed it up with a 3-pointer. Ionesco represented the Liberty well in the All Star game and also won the 2023 WNBA Three-Point Contest scoring 37 points and setting a new record. She kept the same momentum in Sunday’s game.
By halftime the Liberty were ahead 49 – 44. Ionesco led the Liberty with 23 points. After half time the Liberty came back with even more energy. They led 79-53 at the end of the third quarter.
Ionesco led the the Liberty with 31 total points. She had five rebounds and seven assists. Vandersloot added ten points, four rebounds, and six assists, giving her the second most assists in WNBA history. Jones led the Liberty with 14 rebounds. She added 12 points and four assists.
The Liberty next take on the Sky at home August 11.
