Liberty Star Sabrina Ionescu Hits Career Milestone In New York’s Gritty Win Over Atlanta

NEW YORK – Sabrina Ionescu matched her season-high of 34 points to lead the New York Liberty to a double-digit comeback complete nan Atlanta Dream connected Tuesday night, rebounding from nan team’s first nonaccomplishment of nan play complete nan weekend. 

Despite Ionescu’s 20 first-half points, New York trailed by 17 points successful nan 3rd 4th and were pacing to driblet their 2nd consecutive crippled aft nan Indiana Fever handed nan reigning WNBA champions their first nonaccomplishment of nan play connected Saturday night. 

New York Liberty defender Marine Johannes (23) looks to thrust past Atlanta Dream halfway Brittney Griner (42) successful nan 4th fourth astatine Barclays Center connected June 17, 2025. (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)

But momentum quickly shifted hands midway done nan quarter.

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"I deliberation we didn't play well, we didn't person toughness, we didn't person urgency," Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said of nan first half of nan game. "I deliberation we recovered our identity, we recovered immoderate energy… We conscionable request to play harder sometimes." 

New York had 7 turnovers to Atlanta’s 3 successful nan first half, but that personality situation quickly faded down different 14 points from Ionescu and Breanna Stewart’s 11. New York picked up their 10th triumph of nan play pinch an 86-81 victory. 

New York Liberty defender Sabrina Ionescu (20) looks to thrust past Atlanta Dream defender Jordin Canada (3) successful nan 3rd 4th astatine Barclays Center connected June 17, 2025.  (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)

"We're really proud of nan measurement that we fought. And, obviously, that crippled could person easy gone nan different guidance and america conscionable benignant of giving up and being frustrated, and I deliberation you were capable to spot a squad that stayed together, dug really heavy and past benignant of conscionable figured it retired connected nan fly," Ionescu said aft nan game.

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"I'm really impressed pinch our expertise to do that because we haven't been put successful that business this twelvemonth – to spell down that large and person to effort and excavation our measurement retired of a hole, and I deliberation each these experiences are conscionable going to thief america arsenic we proceed to play successful games and nan play goes on." 

Ionescu recorded a season-high of 34 points against nan Fever connected Saturday. She deed that people again connected Tuesday nighttime to people back-to-back 30-point games for nan first clip successful her WNBA career. 

New York Liberty guardant Breanna Stewart (30) takes a jump changeable successful nan 3rd 4th against nan Atlanta Dream astatine Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)

Atlanta rookie Te-Hina Paopao led the Dream pinch 16 points, Allisha Gray added 14, and Brionna Jones and Rhyne Howard some vanished pinch 13.

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Atlanta entered nan crippled tied pinch nan Liberty and Fever successful nan Commissioner's Cup games, but Indiana’s gritty triumph complete the Connecticut Sun connected Tuesday nighttime clinched their spot successful nan title crippled wherever they’ll look nan Minnesota Lynx connected July 1. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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