Ionescu Shines as Liberty Claims WNBA Commissioner’s Cup

Sabrina Ionescu finally found her rhythm on Tuesday night, letting the ball fly through the net and celebrating with a finger gun gesture. It was a moment of triumph after a challenging two weeks.

During that time, she had been working to adapt to a new system that had grown stronger in her absence. Despite her usual aggressive play, she struggled to shake off the rust and couldn’t seem to dominate the court as a superstar should.

But on this particular evening, in a packed Barclays Center, Ionescu broke through her barrier.

What a night for it, too. With her teammate Brianna Stewart, she led the Liberty to a 93-85 victory over the Aces, clinching this year’s WNBA Commissioner’s Cup.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, as the Liberty faced their familiar battle of nearly falling apart. They found themselves trailing by double digits again in the second half, a scenario that had played out too many times this season.

Yet, they dug in and fought back, showcasing a collective effort. Ionescu’s crucial three-pointer with just 16.8 seconds remaining was, well, spectacular.

Stewart shone brightly with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, while Ionescu had a season-high 26 points alongside five rebounds and five assists.

At some point, the Liberty had to draw a line in the sand. They had let go of double-digit leads in earlier games, even squandering a 17-point advantage against the Los Angeles Sparks, which had been particularly humiliating.

This game was different.

Jackie Young of the Aces almost turned the tide single-handedly, leading with a game-high 31 points, 25 of which came in the second half. The Aces played without their star A’ja Wilson, who was sidelined with a foot injury.

In the early fourth quarter, Young made a crucial steal and converted it into a layup, giving her team the lead with just over seven minutes left. But the Liberty didn’t waver.

After a strong rebound from Jonquel Jones, she passed to Ionescu, who then spotted rookie Pauline Astier. They executed the play, which sent the Barclays Center crowd into a frenzy as Ionescu celebrated with a powerful fist pump and a heartfelt hug for the rookie.

Astier’s layup capped a swift 10-0 run, forcing Aces coach Becky Hammon to call for a timeout.

Although the Aces fought back, the Liberty remained resilient. Ionescu contributed significantly, scoring the team’s first eight points, helping establish an early 10-2 lead.

By halftime, Ionescu had racked up a season-high 17 points. Together, she and Stewart led the Liberty to become the first WNBA franchise to win multiple tournaments in a single season since winning last in 2023, despite a loss in the cup final the following year.