Angel Reese's Record-Breaking Streak Ends vs. Liberty

Another fantastic fourth and more propelled the New York Liberty to another win.

Jun 23, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) drives to the basket against the Indiana Fever during the second half of a basketball game at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports / Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

New heroines produced a similar result for the New York Liberty on Saturday afternoon in Chicago.

Amidst another strong Sabrina Ionescu effort, newcomers like Ivana Dojkic and Leonie Fiebich led the way for the Liberrty, who took a 81-67 triumph against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. Ioescu led the way with 28 points while Fiebich was right behind her with 13. A first-year New Yorker, Dojkic tied her seafoam-branded best with 12 off the bench.

In addition to the win, New York (20-4) also ended Angel Reese's record-settting streak of 15 consecutive double-doubles at 15 games ... all while two of their top defenders, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Breanna Stewart sat out due to injuries. After needing a last-minute rebound to keep the streak alive on Thursday in Brooklyn, Reese was held to eight points and 10 rebounds in defeat.

The game started in dubious fashion for the Liberty, especially after Stewart was a late (precautionary) scratch, forcing them to turn to Kennedy Burke in the opening/closing five. New York was 6-of-21 from the field in the first 10, with Ionescu and Jonquel Jones uniting for only 2-of-12.

Renowned for its size, Chicago (9-14) pulled in seven offensive rebounds, all but two landing in the arms of Reese and fellow rookie sensation Kamilla Cardoso. Marina Mabrey took care of affairs on the perimeter, scoring 11 to build a 21-14 lead after one.

Another sterling second quarter, headlined by Dojkic's entry, erased the early lead and shifted momentum. After Dana Evans' three created a five-point lead just a second past the halfway mark, the Liberty embarked on a 14-0 run that created a permanent advantage.

Dojkic had the first five, getting things started by turning a steal from the hands of Evans into a speedy deuce. It was the only part of the four-plus minute rally that didn't feature an assist from either Ionescu or Jones. The latter continued to showcase her newfound distribution skills with seven assists, one short of the career-best she set earlier this season.

Quickly facing a nine-point deficit at halftime, the Sky never got any close than six the rest of the way and let frustration flow with three technical foul charges on the day. Headlining scorer Chennedy Carter was held scoreless in the first period and then was curiously kept on the sidelines until the fourth.

Nearly every Chicago challenge (such as a season-best 14 points for former New Yorker Michaela Onyenwere off the bench) was answered by a Liberty run or three. Fiebich and Ionescu sank a united seven while New York also emerged with the win in the paint, outscoring the queens in the category 36-34. Jones flirted with a triple-double after her rocky start, getting 14 points and nine rebounds with her assists (shooting 5-of-7 after the opening 10).

The frustration mounted in the form of three technical foul charges, as Mabrey, Reese, and head coach/Liberty legend Teresa Weatherspoon acquired one each.

Keeping Reese off her legendary pace was the headlining accomplishment of the day for New York. Foul trouble ate away at her final attempts to keep the streak alive and solid defense from Burke and more (i.e. Jones, Nyara Sabally) limited her to 3-of-13 from the field. In the final stages, New York put four women on her as she put up one last wild attempt, leading the Sky to finally relent.

One game separates the Liberty and the All-Star/Olympic break, as they'll welcome in the current WNBA runner-up Connecticut on Tuesday night in Brooklyn (7 p.m. ET, WWOR).

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