Sun Sets on Liberty Winning Streak

The return of Sabrina Ionescu wasn't enough for the New York Liberty to hold off the Connecticut Sun.

Aug 15, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) against the LA Sparks in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

BROOKLYN-The Connecticut Sun got hot at the right time this weekend at the New York Liberty's expense.

Fresh off a Friday win at home over Chicago, the Sun kept their chances for the top seed in the WNBA playoffs alive and healthy with a 72-64 victory over the Liberty on Saturday at Barclays Center. The win ended a New York winning streak at eight and pushed the Sun (22-7) to 2.5 games out of the league lead.

A Connecticut bench armed with the newfound talents of Liberty nemesis Marina Mabrey helped pave the way to the fun: Mabrey, who averaged 18 points against New York in four showings against New York as a member of the Chicago Sky, scored 15 while Olivia Nelson-Ododa had a dozen.

Mabrey has partaken in both of the Liberty's defeats this season, the other coming against Chicago on May 23. This time it was her interior game that led to the Liberty's doom, as her penetration also afforded her six rebounds. By combining their win with Indiana's loss, the Sun also became the second team behind the Liberty to clinch their 2024 playoff spot.

Sabrina Ionescu was rusty in her return from a two-game absence due to a sore neck, shooting 2-of-12 from three-point range (though the couple allowed her to extend her streak of games with at least one to 53). She nonetheless ended with 12 points as one of four New Yorkers in double figures.

Breanna Stewart had 15 points and 15 rebounds in defeat. Leonie Fiebich also scored 14, most of it coming on a stretch where she tried to single-handedly guide the Liberty to a comeback with 10 consecutive tallies in the late stages of the third.

The Liberty (25-5) got off to a strong start, scoring 25 points in the opening period en route to a five-point lead after the first 10 minutes. But they never earned more than 14 in any of the latter three and were also partly sunk by shooting 7-of-32 from three-point range.

With the homestand complete, the Liberty will rack up some miles with three consecutive late games out west. The journey begins on Monday when they face the Phoenix Mercury (10 p.m. ET, WNYW/NBA TV).

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