CHICAGO — Breanna Stewart scored a season-high 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the New York Liberty to an 88-75 victory Tuesday night over the Chicago Sky, who lost rookie Angel Reese to an ejection in the fourth quarter.
Reese was thrown out with 2:31 remaining after receiving two technical fouls following a brief interaction with an official.
Sabrina Ionescu added 24 points for the Liberty, who won their fourth straight.
New York opened the game on an 21-6 run after making five of its first seven 3-pointers, while Chicago started 3 of 16 from the field. The Sky responded by scoring 33 points in the second quarter to get within 49-48 at the break.
New York started the fourth quarter on a 15-2 run, including 10 straight points, to extend its lead to 80-68. Stewart and Ionescu each scored six points in the frame.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added 14 points for New York (8-2), which avenged a 90-81 loss to Chicago on May 23. Jonquel Jones, who was scoreless until she made a free throw with 4:16 remaining in the third, finished with five points and 12 rebounds.
Rookie Chennedy Carter scored 16 points and Reese had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago (3-5).
Marina Mabrey added 15 points and Elizabeth Williams had 10 points and eight rebounds for Chicago. Kamilla Cardoso, who scored 11 points in her WNBA debut on Saturday, was held to one point in 12 minutes.
In a thrilling matchup between the New York Liberty and the Chicago Sky, Liberty emerged victorious with a final score of 92-87. The standout performance of the night came from Liberty’s star player, Breanna Stewart, who put up an impressive stat line of 33 points and 14 rebounds.
Stewart’s dominant presence on the court was felt throughout the game, as she consistently found ways to score and control the boards. Her ability to score both inside and outside the paint made her a difficult matchup for the Sky’s defense, and her tenacity on the glass helped the Liberty secure crucial second-chance opportunities.
However, the game was not without its controversies. In the third quarter, Sky’s Gabby Reese was ejected from the game after receiving two technical fouls for arguing with the referees. Reese’s absence was felt by the Sky, as they struggled to find their rhythm without one of their key players on the court.
Despite the ejection, the Sky put up a valiant effort to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, but ultimately fell short as the Liberty held on to secure the win. The victory was a much-needed one for the Liberty, who have been looking to build momentum as they head into the latter part of the season.
Overall, it was a hard-fought battle between two talented teams, but in the end, it was Liberty’s strong performance led by Breanna Stewart that proved to be the difference maker. As the season progresses, both teams will look to continue improving and fine-tuning their game in order to make a push for the playoffs.