Liberty Seize Victory Over Fever in Nail-Biter

INDIANAPOLIS – As the crowd roared, Sabrina Ionescu stepped up to the free throw line, and the atmosphere was electric.

Ionescu, who boasts an impressive 90.7% free throw shooting percentage, made both shots, putting Liberty ahead by two points with just 2.9 seconds left on the clock.

Everyone anticipated a pivotal shot from Kate Clark.

But before she could even make a move, Natasha Cloud intercepted the ball, effectively shutting down any chance of a Fever comeback.

Cloud made a crucial play, sealing Liberty’s 90-88 win at Gainbridge Field House on Saturday afternoon.

After a couple of dominant wins to start the season, this game proved to be a significant challenge for Liberty.

Jonquel Jones led the charge with 26 points and 12 rebounds, while Ionescu contributed 23 points. Breanna Stewart and Cloud each tallied 16 points as well.

Despite having a 15-point lead earlier, Liberty found themselves down by 12 at one stage in the fourth quarter.

However, they managed to pull together for their third straight win.

Perhaps this close call was what Liberty really needed. Up until now, their games had seemed almost too straightforward.

Coach Sandy Brondello had voiced some worries about his team’s performance, and it’s hard to pin blame on a team that keeps winning.

Yet, this game brought some of Liberty’s weaknesses into focus—issues like rebounding, complacency, and defensive lapses.

Aliya Boston, particularly, was a thorn in Liberty’s side throughout the game, finishing with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Indiana dominated in the paint, outscoring Liberty 52-42.

The third quarter was where Liberty struggled the most, seeming overly relaxed and out of sorts.

Indiana overturned a 9-point halftime deficit during that quarter, outscoring Liberty 30-13.

Clark might have started slow, but she found her rhythm in the second half. After missing her initial seven three-point attempts in her previous game, she connected on her first three shots from beyond the arc.

A four-point play gave the Fever a 73-68 lead with about a minute remaining in the quarter. Clark capped off a strong third with one of her signature stepbacks at the buzzer, celebrating her team’s 76-68 lead.

In total, Clark scored 18 points and dished out 10 assists.

Next, Liberty will host Valkyrie on Tuesday.