On Tuesday night, the New York Liberty continued their dominant 2025 WNBA campaign by defeating the Chicago Sky 85-66 at home, marking their ninth straight victory and solidifying their place as one of the league's undefeated powerhouses alongside the Minnesota Lynx. The Liberty's perfect start to the season is the best in franchise history and places them among only nine teams in WNBA history to open a season 9-0.
The game began with a bang as New York surged ahead, scoring the first 12 points and setting the tone early. Sabrina Ionescu led the charge with 23 points, seven assists, and four steals, showcasing remarkable efficiency by converting 9 of her 14 field goal attempts. Breanna Stewart was equally impressive, contributing 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, helping the Liberty maintain a 47.9 percent shooting success rate from the field.
New York's bench also made a significant impact, with Kennedy Burke delivering a standout performance off the bench. Burke scored 15 points, including a perfect three-for-three from beyond the arc, and nailed a wide-open 3-pointer from the corner off a no-look pass by Ionescu with just 1.4 seconds left in the first half. This shot helped the Liberty take a commanding 52-32 lead into halftime.
Nyara Sabally, making her first WNBA start in place of the injured Jonquel Jones, who was sidelined due to a sprained right ankle, added nine points in 15 minutes of action. Jones, who ranks second in the league in rebounds per game behind Angel Reese, was a notable absence for New York.
Despite the Liberty's dominance, the Chicago Sky showed flashes of resilience, particularly through second-year forward Angel Reese. Reese delivered a season-best performance with 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting, alongside 11 rebounds and three assists, earning her the Sky's Player of the Game honors despite the loss. This marked Reese's fourth double-double of the season and her 30th career double-double, achieved in just her 42nd WNBA game—the fewest games needed to reach that milestone in league history.
Reese's performance was a bright spot for Chicago, who struggled with 22 turnovers and managed only 28 field goals. Rookie guard Hailey Van Lith also made a memorable contribution by hitting her first WNBA three-pointer late in the fourth quarter with 1:09 remaining.
The Liberty continued to pull away in the second half, ending the third quarter on an 11-0 run and scoring the first six points of the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 76-42. Chicago mounted a late surge in the final quarter, outscoring New York 24-15, but it wasn't enough to close the gap.
Adding to the Sky's challenges, the team announced on Sunday that veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot suffered a torn ACL, an injury that will sideline her for an extended period. Vandersloot, who spent the previous two seasons with New York and was instrumental in the Liberty's recent WNBA championship, had returned to Chicago this season but now faces a significant recovery period.
The game also featured a surprise courtside appearance by newly crowned French Open tennis champion Coco Gauff. The crowd erupted with cheers as Gauff's presence was announced and displayed on the arena's big screen. Gauff responded with a warm smile, wave, and a heart gesture, adding a touch of star power and excitement to an already electric atmosphere.
With this victory, the Liberty improved to 3-0 in WNBA Commissioner Cup matches and remain a formidable force in the league. Their relentless defense, efficient shooting, and depth continue to set them apart as they chase a historic season.
Looking ahead, the Chicago Sky will regroup and prepare to face the Atlanta Dream on Friday, June 13, 2025. Despite their current 2-6 record, the Sky will rely on rising stars like Angel Reese to lead the charge as they seek to turn their season around.
For the Liberty, the focus remains on maintaining their unbeaten streak and building on their franchise-best start as they continue to chase championship glory in this promising season.
