New York downs Las Vegas… could there be another Finals run on the horizon?
By Noah Zimmerman
noah@queensledger.com
BARCLAYS CENTER – The New York Liberty became the first WNBA team to win multiple Commissioner’s Cup titles last week, taking down the Las Vegas Aces in a wild battle at the Barclays Center.
It’s the second time the Liberty have taken down the Aces in the cup final, winning their first title in 2023. They went on to make a WNBA Finals appearance that year, as well as the following season when they lost the Commissioner’s Cup but won their first ever WNBA Championship.
A masterful performance by Breanna Stewart paved the way for New York, earning her a second Commissioner’s Cup MVP. Alongside her 25 points and 11 rebounds, Stewie swatted a pair of shots and picked up two steals, a dominant display on both ends.
Leading Liberty scorers was Sabrina Ionescu with 26. As she continues to find her footing after a few early injuries, Ionescu’s best game of the season came at the perfect time.
Sabrina scored 17 in the first half as New York put 51 points on the board. After the Aces took control in the second half, an Ionescu three put the cap on a 15-2 run as New York retook the lead, eventually winning 93-85.
New York’s 7-0 cup record saw them raise $28,000 for their partner foundation, the African American Policy Forum (AAPF). In addition, the Nets and Liberty Foundation pledged another $10,000 to the AAPF.
Sabrina kept her hot hand the next night out, scoring another 17 points in a big win over the Minnesota Lynx. With their star guard looking more like herself, New York kept the ball moving to feed their scorers in their most effective spots.
Once again it was Stewart who stood out, hitting 14 of her 19 field goal attempts for a 36-point showing. With Breanna giving them breathing room, New York was able to contain Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, and rookie of the year favorite Olivia Miles.
The Liberty won 99-86, giving them back to back victories against the league’s top title contenders. While New York sat atop the Eastern Conference at the start of the week, they trailed a few teams from the West, including Las Vegas, Minnesota, and Tuesday’s opponent, Dallas.
Fueled by the cup win, the Liberty have their eyes set on the main goal. They hope to follow in the footsteps of the New York Knicks, who won the midseason NBA Cup before breaking a 53-year championship drought later that season.
The Liberty have five more games before a brief break for the All-Star Game on July 25. They finish up the first half with a four-game road trip in Minnesota, Toronto, Dallas, and Indiana before they host the Chicago Sky on Wednesday, July 22.
