The New York Liberty are the first franchise in WNBA history to win two Commissioner’s Cup titles. They sealed that distinction Tuesday night with a 93-85 win over the Las Vegas Aces at Barclays Center. And in the locker room afterward, there was only one way to celebrate.
Champagne. Gallons of it.
Head coach Chris DeMarco made sure his team didn’t hold back. He wanted them to enjoy the moment, especially after a season that started with injuries, lineup shuffles and the usual growing pains that come with a new coach.
“You have to embrace this, like we’re in there pouring champagne on each other,” DeMarco said postgame. “These moments matter, winning matters. I’ll take that from this, for sure.”
The Liberty took control early, building a 14-point lead by halftime. The Aces went cold from three-point range, and New York looked like it might coast. But Las Vegas roared back in the third quarter, cutting the lead to three and making it a real game down the stretch.
That’s when Sabrina Ionescu took over. She drilled two late three-pointers that basically sealed it. The crowd at Barclays Center got loud, and the Liberty got to celebrate on their home floor.
It’s worth noting the Aces were without A’ja Wilson, their four-time MVP, who sat out with a right leg injury. Even so, New York had to earn it. Las Vegas kept pushing into the fourth quarter, and the Liberty had to answer every run.
The whole thing carried extra weight because of how this season started. The Liberty stumbled out of the gate, dealing with injuries and trying to adjust to DeMarco’s system. Winning the Cup gives them something concrete to build on — a trophy and a reminder that they can close games when it matters.
For DeMarco, the champagne wasn’t just about this one title. It was about setting a tone. His team is chasing something bigger, but that doesn’t mean you skip the small victories along the way.
“We’re in there pouring champagne on each other,” he said again, almost like he still couldn’t believe it. “These moments matter.”
The Liberty also won the Commissioner’s Cup in 2023, and now they’re the only franchise with two. That stat alone says something about where this program is headed.
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