Liberty pass physicality take a look at, break WNBA record…
CHICAGO — Jonquel Jones stated Thursday’s recreation at Chicago wasn’t going to be a cakewalk, noting how bodily the Sky play.
Jones was proper about the physicality, but Thursday’s 99-74 victory appeared to be a piece of cake for the defending WNBA champions, who improved to 2-0 on the season.
Breanna Stewart and Leonie Fiebich had towels draped on their shoulders, and Jones pulled on a Liberty T-shirt in the fourth quarter. Sabrina Ionescu was laughing with her teammates on the bench.
The typical issues dominant groups do during blowouts.
After making only 4 3-pointers on 19 p.c capturing in their season-opening win Saturday, the Liberty broke a league record Thursday for most 3-pointers by a staff in a recreation.
Kennedy Burke drained the Liberty’s nineteenth 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
As a staff, they shot 55.9 p.c from downtown.
Natasha Cloud had 18 factors and eight assists, and Burke added 17 factors off the bench.
It wasn’t a good recreation for the Liberty.
Their offense seemed clunky or too sped up at instances.
Sabrina Ionescu, who scored 16 factors, drives on Ariel Atkins during the Liberty’s 99-74 blowout win over the Sky on May 22, 2025. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
That would have been more problematic against a more organized, high-functioning staff such as Caitlin Clark’s Fever, against whom the Liberty play Saturday.
The Liberty had been whistled for touring on a number of events and dedicated 20 turnovers.
But against the Sky, it didn’t matter.
Natasha Cloud, who scored a game-high 18 factors, drives between two Sky defenders during the Liberty’s blowout win. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Chicago is a staff looking for identification and in the method of putting in a new system under first-year head coach Tyler Marsh.
The Sky still are establishing cohesion among their three new beginning guards and two younger post gamers, Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese.
That allowed the Liberty to run away with the sport in the second quarter.
Angel Reese, who had two factors and 12 rebounds, reacts with frustration during the Sky’s blowout loss to the Liberty. Getty Images
Even with Ionescu sitting most of it after choosing up her third foul, they managed to outscore the Sky 25-9 to carry a 21-point lead into halftime.
The Sky got here out of the locker room swinging.
They rattled off eight unanswered factors to trim the Liberty’s lead to 13, which pressured coach Sandy Brondello to take a timeout.
Sabrina Ionescu is fouled by Courtney Vandersloot, her former teammate, during the Liberty’s blowout win over the Sky. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
That was the closest the Sky would get.
Moments later, Reese was whistled for an offensive foul and then acquired her second technical foul of the season for arguing the call.
The Liberty watched their lead swell once again to 21 by the top of the third quarter.
Stay up to date with the newest trending topics! Visit our web site every day for the freshest Sports information and content material, fastidiously curated to keep you knowledgeable.
