Photos by: Brandon Todd
TEAM NOTABLES
In front of a record-sellout crowd of 11,615 on Monday, the New York Liberty (28-7) defeated the Las Vegas Aces (30-6), 94-85, in the finale of their 2023 four-game season series, splitting the series, 2-2, and handing the Aces their first pair of consecutive losses since 2022.
Across the four head-to-head matchups this regular season, New York holds a point differential of +17.
Including the Commissioner’s Cup, New York has faced Las Vegas four times this month, winning three of the meetings by an average of 22 points per game. Overall, the Liberty have won three of their five meetings against the Aces in 2023.
At Barclays Center, the Liberty finished on 45.3% (34-75) shooting from the field, 30.3% (10-33) from three, and 84.2% (16-19) at the free throw line.
Including their August 6 victory over Las Vegas, tonight’s result secured the Liberty’s first set of regular-season wins against the Aces since the franchise relocated to the desert.
Further, this is just the second time in Liberty franchise history that they have won multiple games versus the Aces franchise at home in the same season, having first done so in 2017 against the then San Antonio Stars.
Up Next: The New York Liberty will host the Connecticut Sun on Friday, September 1 at 8 p.m. ET.
KEY RUNS
Q1: New York went on a 20-8 run from the 3:34 mark of the first to the 6:39 mark of the second quarter.
Q2: New York went on a 16-6 run from the 6:39 mark of the second to the 2:18 mark of the first half.
Q3: There were no significant runs in this quarter.
Q4: Las Vegas went on a 10-2 run from the 3:01 mark of the fourth to the 1:24 mark of the final quarter.
PLAYER NOTABLES
New York finished with four double-digit scorers in tonight’s game (Ionescu, Stewart, Vandersloot, Laney).
Highlighted by 12 first-quarter points on 80% (4-5) shooting from the field, including 66.7% (2-3) from deep, Sabrina Ionescu totaled a game-high 25 points on 57.1% (8-14) shooting from the field, including 50% (5-10) from deep, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Two games after breaking the single-season franchise scoring record, Breanna Stewart eclipsed the single-season franchise rebounding record, breaking the previous record of 321 with her eighth rebound at the 1:26 mark of third. Stewart ultimately finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two blocks, marking her 17th double-double of the season. At the 0:45 mark of the second, she also recorded her 300th career steal.
Courtney Vandersloot finished with 17 points on 58.3% (7-12) shooting from the floor, 10 assists, and five rebounds. This is Vandersloot’s sixth double-double of the season and her 31st career game with at least 15 points and 10 assists – the most in WNBA history.
Betnijah Laney also added 17 points on 50% (5-10) shooting from the field, six rebounds, and three assists. Marking her 11th game of double-digit rebounds since the All-Star break, Jonquel Jones recorded 10 rebounds, while also finishing with four points. For Las Vegas, Jackie Young finished with 24 points, five assists, and four rebounds, while A’ja Wilson added 23 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks.
