The Connecticut Sun’s undefeated streak in the Commissioner’s Cup came to an end on Saturday as they faced the New York Liberty. Entering the game with a perfect 9-0 record, the Sun were looking to extend the fourth-best start in WNBA history. However, the Liberty, riding a five-game winning streak, had other plans.
The New York Liberty started strong with an 8-0 run, ultimately leading 11-2, thanks to Sabrina Ionescu’s historic three-pointer, making her the fastest player to reach 300 career 3-pointers in just 117 games. Despite a comeback attempt by the Sun, highlighted by Dewanna Bonner’s triple narrowing the gap to 11-7, the Liberty finished the first quarter ahead 28-18, with Ionescu scoring 10 points on perfect shooting.
The Sun clawed back in the second quarter, going on a 7-0 run and tying the game at 30 with 6:21 left, following Tiffany Mitchell’s and-one layup. Bonner’s free throws gave the Sun their first lead at 32-30, but the game remained tight, with a halftime score tied at 39-39 after Jonquel Jones’ layup.
Connecticut started the second half strong, with Alyssa Thomas stealing and scoring to give the Sun their largest lead. However, Liberty persisted, cutting the deficit to three by the end of the third quarter, trailing 60-57.
In the fourth quarter, Jonquel Jones tied the game at 62 with a three-pointer, leading to a back-and-forth battle. The Liberty took the lead for good with key plays, including a fadeaway by Leonie Fiebich and a clutch three from Ionescu. Jones’ career-high fourth three-pointer sealed the game, helping New York to a 74-68 lead. The Liberty’s defence ranked fourth in the league, held firm, with Breanna Stewart blocking a crucial layup attempt by Dijonai Harrington in the final minute.
The Liberty’s victory improved their season record to 10-2 and secured their spot in the Commissioner’s Cup Championship on June 25. Ionescu led with 24 points, supported by Jones’ 22 points and Stewart’s all-around performance with 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Despite six Sun players scoring in double figures, including Bonner’s 16 points and Thomas’ near triple-double, Connecticut fell short of maintaining their historic streak.
Next, the Liberty aim to extend their winning streak against the Washington Mystics on Sunday, while the Sun look to rebound against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Monday.
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