Liberty Ends Season with Win Over Sky
Chicago – Liberty wrapped up its season with a victory, mirroring its strong start.
On Thursday, New York bested the Sky 91-86 in the final regular-season game.
Liberty essentially secured their win in the first quarter, outscoring Chicago 26-11. By halftime, they were up by 14, and at one point, the lead swelled to 23.
Everything played out as expected, and now Liberty is heading into the playoffs without any major injuries and riding a wave of confidence from three consecutive wins.
In fact, they were so ahead that they rested most, if not all, of their starters during the fourth quarter.
Breanna Stewart led the team with 24 points, adding six rebounds and three assists. Interestingly, she has connected on a three-pointer in each of her last six games, a notable streak since her MVP season in 2023.
Sabrina Ionescu contributed 11 points, five rebounds, and a remarkable 11 assists with no turnovers. From the bench, Rebekah Gardner and Emma Meesseman chipped in with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Having won three straight, Liberty seems to be in great shape heading into the playoffs.
Coach Sandy Brondello expressed confidence, stating, “We’re confident in winning, but it’s all about the process… Have we gotten better? I think so. We have our full group together and understand what works and what we need to improve on.” She added that they must go into Phoenix believing they can win.
Late in the second quarter, Liberty employed a larger lineup featuring Ionescu, Leonie Fevich, Stewart, Meesseman, and Jonquel Jones.
Brondello called this lineup “successful,” and Stewart noted improved chemistry compared to earlier attempts. “We tried it before, but we were too crowded. Now, we developed a better flow,” she explained. “It’s about maintaining that chemistry and knowing our plays together.”
On the flip side, Chicago, under first-year coach Tyler Marsh, ended the season with a 10-34 record. There’s substantial work ahead for them in the offseason.
Angel Reese’s future remains a key talking point.
Liberty concluded the season at 27-17, finishing fifth overall.
Next, they will face the fourth-seeded Mercury in Game 1 of the best-of-three series in Phoenix.
