A few weeks ago, former New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello made a tremendous observation: “I always say, a fan has to just come and watch one game and they’ll fall in love.” And for fans whose first in-person WNBA game was last night, they were treated to a moment of a lifetime.
For much of the night, the Chicago Sky were able to hang tough with the New York Liberty. Rookie sensation Sydney Taylor led the way for Chicago with 31 points as she continues to be the best thing about the Sky in 2026
The Sky built a lead as large as 12 points in the fourth quarter. But the Liberty didn’t give up, and neither did the 16,783 fans at Barclays Center.
Liberty star Breanna Stewart had her worst shooting game of the season as she uncharacteristically missed a bevy of shots at the rim on the way to a 5-19 shot from the field, but it didn’t matter. Her block of guard Vandersloot at the rim and then driving layup in traffic cut the Sky lead to one and had the Barclays Center rocking
Taylor hit a pair of free throws with 58.9 seconds left to put the Sky up eight points. With a lead that big, you’d think the game would be in hand, right? Nope!
How did Ionescu trigger New York’s comeback?
Ionescu triggered the New York Liberty’s 12-point fourth-quarter comeback by scoring 9 unanswered points in the final 60 seconds, sinking a deep corner three falling into the bench, a contested pull-up three, and a driving lefty layup with an and-1 free throw to tie the game at 94.
She’s has had her ups and downs this season. Injuries and a slow start derailed the four-time All-Star for much of the early schedule. However, she’s started to pick things up and was the driving force in the team’s overtime win against Dallas.
Even with her struggles, Ionescu is someone New York always counts on down the stretch. And down eight with less than a minute remaining, she made magic happen out of thin air:
… Corner pocket three: It started with a deep three-pointer from the right corner facing heavy traffic, falling directly into the team bench as the ball snapped the net. (91-86, Sky)
…… Then, a pull-up three: On the next possession, Ionescu pulled up from deep at the top of the key over a contested hand. (93-91, Sky)
…… Finally a driving And-1: Down three, Ionescu drove hard left through contact, finished off the glass, and calmly cashed in the free throw to complete the 3-point play.
TIED AT 94!
On the ensuing possession, Vandersloot found Kamilla Cardoso rolling to the basket. Liberty’s Jonquel Jones recovered defensively, forced a short-armed miss, pulled down the rebound, and drew a foul with 3.4 seconds left for a chance to ice the game. JJ calmly made the first one, and then missed the second one on purpose as the Sky were out of timeouts. Vandersloot was forced into a desperation heave at the buzzer that landed well short of the rim, sealing the victory.
We got ya, JJ!
Final score: New York Liberty 95, Chicago Sky 94
After the game, the focus was on Ionescu’s magic minute.
“Tonight was amazing,” Jones said. “And that one that she hit close to our bench, I just looked at her like, God damn, she’s a dog! It was amazing.“
“She literally willed us and carried us at the end,” Breanna Stewart said. “She wanted to do anything she could to kind of get the win and it was great to have Barclays really going nuts again.”
This season has been incredibly challenging for the Liberty. Injuries, poor play, and frustration have made things tough on the squad. However, the past two wins have taken a level of grit and resiliency that they will need if they want to make it back to the WNBA Finals. And with one of the strongest homecourt advantages in the league, it could be what they need to go on a big run.
“The crowd was phenomenal,” Chris DeMarco said. “Our fans were awesome, and that’s what they want to see. They want to see the fight. And if we’re down, we’re back in the game offensively. We’re executing. Just having them behind us is why you want to build that identity, that toughness, that competitiveness, that togetherness. And I think we’re taking the right steps toward that.”
Time will tell.
Player Updates & Injury News
Natasha Cloud returns to Barclays Center
Two ex-Liberty point guards returned to Barclays Center on Wednesday night, Courtney Vandersloot and Natasha Cloud. For Cloud, though, it was her first game back after quickly becoming a fan favorite in New York during her sole seafoam season in 2025. She signed a barrage of autographs pregame, smiling and holding friendly conversation with all comers as she typically does.
The fans reciprocated that love when her tribute video came during introductions…
At Tuesday’s practice in NYC, Cloud hinted at some sore feelings regarding her departure from the Liberty, telling Jake Nisse of the New York Post: “I definitely use that as fuel and fire, but it’s another game, and it’s about the Chicago Sky and trying to get it done.”
Cloud also told Nisse that she hadn’t spoken spoken with GM Jonathan Kolb or any of her former teammates about her exit, though that clearly hasn’t eroded her relationship with the fanbase.
“I’m really happy to be back in New York. I’m happy to be back with this fanbase that I didn’t get a chance to say bye to, or kind of have my farewell with because of how it happened,” later adding: “New York was a really good place for my soul, for my mental. So it always feels good to be back and knowing that they had such an impression on me, and I hope that I had the same impression on them as they did me.”
Leonie Fiebich Injury Update
Leonie Fiebich missed her seventh straight game with a foot injury that she and the team are still calling “soreness,” but she did address the media before Wednesday night’s contest.
“I’m feeling good, making progress, getting better every day,” she said. “Kind of took a bad step in the Minnesota game, and yeah, had some soreness since then.“
Fiebich kept her cards characteristically close to the vest, declining to share any sort of timeline, though she did let one interesting nugget slip: “I was trying to get out there, see how it feels, and then we did an MRI, and then we decided it was best for me to rest a little.”
An MRI would show the inflammation she seems otherwise feel, however an extended absence after the All-Star break would also raise the plantar fasciitis question.
“Being extra cautious and careful is something that’s really testing my patience,” she said. “But I mean, I gotta do it. Like, there’s no way around it.”
Unfortunately, the same goes for the New York Liberty as a whole, in desperate need of her defense and shooting as they weather an up-and-down summer.
Next Up
Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and select Liberty staff head to Chicago this weekend for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game. When the Liberty officially return to action, they’ll begin a three game road trip against the Los Angeles Sparks. Tip off at 10 PM on July 28.
Box Score & Key Performance
- Sabrina Ionescu: 29 PTS (8-11 FG, 5-8 3PT, 8-8 FT)
- Jonquel Jones: 14 PTS, 10 REB, 1 BLK
- Breanna Stewart: 20 PTS, 9 REB, 1 BLK
- Sydney Taylor (CHI): 31 PTS (Career-high)
