Brickyard 4 in a Row: Liberty Clinch Commissioner's Cup Berth in Indy

The New York Liberty went into the All-Star break on a high note, running away from the Indiana Fever in the second half en route to clinching a berth in the Commissioner's Cup final.

With hundreds of children on hand at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Indiana Fever's camp day, the New York Liberty had plenty of activities in store.

The youngsters didn't get to roast marshmallows over the Liberty's early firey shooting but took in a talent show headlined by metropolitan stars Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Courtney Vandersloot, who guided New York to a 95-87 victory over the hosting Fever in overtime.

New York led by as much as 20 on Wednesday but struggled to put away the Fever (5-15) late thanks to 22 turnovers that allowed the hosts to get as close as two in the final minutes by way by way of a 18-4 run. The Liberty went six-plus minutes without a field goal in the final stanzas, their lone sustenance in that span coming purely through free throws. Aliyah Boston officially forced a fifth period with a buzzer-beating triple, the second of her career on just her third attempt.

Wednesday's win allowed the Liberty (14-4) to not only enter the WNBA All-Star break on a four-game winning streak but also clinched the Eastern Conference's spot in the Commissioner's Cup in-season competition. The final against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces will be staged on Aug. 15 in Sin City, which will also host All-Star events this weekend.

Neither Reggie Miller nor Adam Vinatieri was on hand, but Ionescu, leading all participants with 34 points, kept the triples flowing in Indianapolis to the tune of a 7-of-14 output from three-point range, her last re-establishing the Liberty's multi-possession lead in the penultimate minute of the extra session. Stewart didn't match the Liberty record 45 points she had in the team's first meeting in May but had 16 points (albeit on 4-of-15 shooting) and earned a double-double with 10 rebounds. Their aerial antics came courtesy of Vandersloot, who had 10 assists to pad her Association-leading tally.

Stewart will captain one of the two teams at the WNBA All-Star Game, which will be staged in primetime on Saturday night (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC). Ionescu and Vandersloot are stationed on Stewart's squad, as is Wednesday opponent Kelsey Mitchell, who had 16 points in defeat. Boston led Indiana with 23 points and came a rebound short of her own double-double. 

New York and Indiana are due to meet again on July 23 in Brooklyn.

The Liberty will get a camp day of their own upon their return to action from the All-Star break, as the Dallas Wings visit Barclays Center next Wednesday afternoon (1 p.m. ET, YES/NBA TV).

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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