NEW YORK — Sabrina Ionescu scored 21 points and Jonquel Jones added 18 points and 13 rebounds to help the New York Liberty beat the Chicago Sky 91-76 on Thursday night.
Angel Reese extended her WNBA record double-double streak to 15 straight games, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She got her 10th rebound with just over 2 minutes left in the game, which drew a loud cheer from the crowd of 17,758, the largest in Liberty history at Barclays Center.
“They love women’s sports,” Reese said. “Just being able to go in this direction and continue to strive for great things. You never know the limit here. So many records have been broken, not just with me, but so many different players in this league.”
New York (19-4) led 68-66 early in the fourth quarter before going on a 7-2 run to create some space.
Reese’s 10th point got the Sky (9-13) within 78-72 with 3:51 left. After a timeout, Ionescu hit a 3-pointer and the Sky never recovered.
Chennedy Carter scored 22 points to lead the Sky.
Chicago jumped to a 37-24 lead midway through the second quarter behind Carter before Breanna Stewart got going to rally the Liberty to within 40-38 at halftime. Stewart scored the first seven points of a 14-1 run to get New York back in the game.
Ionescu had her first points of the game to cap the run and tie the game at 38. She had missed her first seven shots. She was much better in the second half.
“I was just trusting the looks — I was getting good looks at the basket, they were just long,” Ionescu said. “I was driving and getting into the pick-and-roll with (Jonquel), which was beneficial for us in the fourth quarter.”
Before the second quarter began New York honoured many of its former players, including ring of honor members Kym Hampton and Sue Wicks. The announcer saved Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon for last and her former teammates went over and mobbed her after the ceremony ended. Weatherspoon got a warm ovation from the sellout crowd.
“Amazing feeling to have an opportunity to see one another, reminisce a little bit,” Weatherspoon said. “Do something like this in front of an amazing crowd here. It’s an awesome feeling. I love those young women with all my heart and they know that. The love we share is really real.”
Both teams were playing the second game of a back-to-back. The Sky beat Atlanta in Chicago on Wednesday while New York won at Connecticut.
The two teams play again on Saturday in Chicago.
Angel Reese, the standout forward for the Chicago Sky, continued her impressive double-double streak in a recent game against the New York Liberty. Despite her strong performance, the Sky ultimately fell short, losing to the Liberty in a close matchup.
Reese, who has been a dominant force on the court this season, recorded her fifth consecutive double-double in the game against the Liberty. She finished with an impressive stat line of 20 points and 12 rebounds, showcasing her versatility and skill as a player.
Despite Reese’s standout performance, the Sky struggled to contain the Liberty’s offense, particularly in the second half. The Liberty’s strong shooting and aggressive defense proved to be too much for the Sky to overcome, ultimately leading to their defeat.
While the loss was disappointing for the Sky, Reese’s continued success on the court is a bright spot for the team. Her consistent double-double performances have been a key factor in the Sky’s success this season, and her strong play will be crucial as they look to bounce back from this defeat and continue their push for a playoff spot.
Overall, while the outcome of the game was not what the Sky had hoped for, Angel Reese’s impressive double-double streak serves as a reminder of her talent and impact on the team. As the season progresses, fans can expect to see more standout performances from Reese as she continues to make her mark on the WNBA.