The New York Liberty are the first team to win back-to-back Commissioner’s Cup titles. And they did it Tuesday night at Barclays Center in front of a home crowd that watched them nearly blow a 17-point lead before pulling away late.
Final score: New York 98, Las Vegas 93.
Breanna Stewart put up 25 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Sabrina Ionescu had 26 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. With 15.7 seconds left, Ionescu buried a three that felt like a crowbar prying open the Aces’ last bit of hope.
The Liberty won their first Commissioner’s Cup in 2023, also against the Aces. No other franchise has won it twice.
How New York Nearly Lost Control
Las Vegas came out flat in the first half. The Liberty jumped ahead by 17 at one point. But the Aces, playing without MVP A’ja Wilson (she hurt her leg Sunday against Chicago), fought back behind Jackie Young. Las Vegas actually took a lead in the fourth quarter, 71-69.
Then New York ripped off a 15-2 run and never gave the lead back.
The Aces looked tired without Wilson. She’s the engine. Without her, everything gets harder. But they still almost stole the game on the road.
The Liberty were missing Satou Sabally, who’s in concussion protocol.
The Dagger That Ended It
With less than 20 seconds left and the shot clock running down, Ionescu caught the ball on the wing, pump-faked and stepped into a three. Nothing but net. The Barclays crowd exploded. Las Vegas called timeout but never recovered.
Ionescu’s been the closer all season for New York. Tuesday was just another example of why the Liberty are the deepest team in the league when they’re healthy.
Stewart was everywhere defensively. She blocked shots, tipped passes, grabbed boards. She and Ionescu have developed a two-person game that’s tough to stop in crunch time. The Aces threw different defenders at them. Didn’t matter much.
New York’s bench also chipped in. Jonquel Jones had 14 points and 8 rebounds off the bench. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added 12 points and played tough defense on Young for stretches.
The Commissioner’s Cup isn’t the Finals. It’s an in-season tournament. But winning it twice says something about a team’s ability to show up when a game means something extra. The Liberty have that feel right now. A focused, experienced, confident group that knows how to close.
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