Breanna Stewart’s double-double leads way as Liberty match team win record

After securing a playoff spot for a 3rd consecutive season, the Liberty remained on a excessive by defeating the Chicago Sky, 89-73, on Friday evening on the Barclays Heart for his or her fifth consecutive victory. 

The Liberty, who clinched a playoff spot Thursday evening by advantage of some different groups shedding, had earned their four-day relaxation after defeating the WNBA-best Las Vegas Aces, 99-61, on Sunday they usually proved to be close to their peak once more — matching a franchise file of 23 wins by capturing 51.5 % from the sector and 52 % from 3-point vary. 

“It’s fairly cool [earning the record],” head coach Sandy Brondello stated after the win. “I didn’t know that. … We had huge objectives coming in and I feel we proceed to develop and constructing our chemistry, in order that’s what excites me.

“Clearly, profitable is part of it.” 

Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with a double-double with 21 factors and 12 rebounds, adopted by Sabrina Ionescu with 19 factors and eight assists. Jonquel Jones chipped in with 18 factors and 7 rebounds. 

Betnijah Laney additionally posted a stable efficiency with 11 factors and three assists. 

Early on, Jones was dominant within the paint for the Liberty with six factors and 4 rebounds inside the first 4 minutes and Laney led with eight factors, going 2-for-2 from three. 

However the Sky inched again into the sport, coming inside two of the Liberty with 2:10 left within the first half.

However a 3-pointer from Stewart and a steal and layup by Kayla Thorton off of a poor move began a surge, with the Liberty taking a 48-40 lead into halftime.

The Liberty utilized the defensive stress on Chicago’s three-time All-Star, Kahleah Copper, holding her to 6 factors within the first half. 

“I believed we defended her properly,” Brondello stated. “We have now Betnijah Laney. She’s an animal. She takes pleasure in making it arduous and I feel we made it arduous for Kah.” 

Within the third quarter, the Liberty misplaced their groove with Jones and Courtney Vandersloot every committing three turnovers, and the Sky got here inside 4 factors with 2:42 left within the third quarter on an Alanna Smith 3-pointer. 

Nonetheless, issues started to click on as soon as once more for the Liberty on a glowing floating three-pointer from Marine Johannes to push the lead again to seven at 60-53. 

The Liberty saved up their robust play and prolonged their lead — the biggest being by 17 factors — with Jones discovering her consistency once more, including 12 extra factors after scoring six within the first half to complete with 18. 

“Simply actually pleased for JJ, to be fairly trustworthy. She simply [is] enjoying so properly on each ends of the ball for us and that’s why we’re the place we’re for the time being,” Brondello stated. “I feel her and Stewie have this nice mixture. … We’re establishing her down low on offense and she or he’s gone to work.” 

The five-game win streak is the Liberty’s longest this season.

They start a four-game highway journey beginning on Sunday in Indianapolis to face the Fever at 3 p.m.