Stewart, Ionescu lead Liberty past Aces for second Cup title
Sabrina Ionescu’s 26 points and Breanna Stewart’s 25 lift the Liberty to a 93–85 win over the Aces and a second Commissioner’s Cup crown.
Sabrina Ionescu’s 26 points and Breanna Stewart’s 25 lift the Liberty to a 93–85 win over the Aces and a second Commissioner’s Cup crown.
The New York Liberty claimed their second WNBA Commissioner’s Cup with a 93–85 victory over the Las Vegas Aces on August 14 in Las Vegas. Sabrina Ionescu delivered a 26-point outing, while Breanna Stewart contributed 25 points, combining for 51 of the Liberty’s 93 points. Jonquel Jones added 14 rebounds and 12 points, anchoring the Liberty’s frontcourt dominance.
Las Vegas, led by A’ja Wilson’s 28 points and 10 rebounds, fought back from a 12-point deficit in the third quarter. Chelsea Gray chipped in 18 points, but the Aces couldn’t overcome the Liberty’s balanced attack. The Liberty’s defense forced 17 turnovers, including six from Wilson, stifling the Aces’ transition game.
The Cup final also marked the first time this season the Liberty held an opponent under 90 points, a sign of their defensive maturation under coach Sandy Brondello. The win avenged an earlier season loss to the Aces and marked the Liberty’s second Commissioner’s Cup title in three years. The victory also extended their franchise-best 12-game home winning streak at Barclays Center.
It was the first time a team won consecutive Commissioner’s Cups since the format’s 2022 inception, underscoring the Liberty’s sustained excellence in high-stakes games. “Job done,” Stewart told reporters postgame. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
” What’s next: The Liberty (28–6) will close out the regular season on the road against the Indiana Fever, while the Aces (25–9) prepare for a potential playoff rematch. The Cup triumph solidifies New York as the league’s top seed and a favorite heading into the postseason. The Commissioner’s Cup final served as a microcosm of the Liberty’s season-long identity: elite offense paired with suffocating defense.
Their ability to limit Wilson—one of the league’s most dominant two-way players—to just six turnovers despite her 28 points highlighted their defensive versatility. Meanwhile, the Liberty’s bench outscored the Aces’ reserves 22–14, a key factor in overcoming Las Vegas’ late surge. The win also reinforced the Liberty’s reputation as the league’s most clutch team, with a 10–1 record in games decided by five points or fewer.
The Aces, despite the loss, showed why they remain a perennial contender. Wilson’s 28–10 stat line kept them in the game, while Gray’s 18 points provided secondary scoring. However, the Aces’ reliance on isolation sets in the fourth quarter exposed their limitations against structured defenses.
The loss dropped them to 3–4 against the Liberty this season, a worrying trend as both teams head toward what could be a playoff showdown. The Liberty’s frontcourt trio of Stewart, Jones, and Stefanie Dolson combined for 57 points and 30 rebounds, a physical mismatch that wore down the Aces over 40 minutes. Their ability to switch seamlessly between man and zone defenses disrupted Las Vegas’ rhythm, particularly in the paint where Dolson’s mobility neutralized Wilson’s interior dominance.
This tactical flexibility allowed the Liberty to dictate tempo, a hallmark of championship-caliber teams. The Aces’ late-game collapse was punctuated by a 0-for-6 shooting stretch in the final two minutes, a stretch that included three missed layups. Their inability to generate second-chance points—despite outrebounding the Liberty 42–36—highlighted a season-long struggle to capitalize on offensive rebounds in critical moments.
The loss exposed a pattern: when Wilson isn’t at her most efficient, the Aces lack a secondary creator to bail them out. Read at ESPN
The Liberty’s balanced scoring and defensive discipline under pressure underscored their championship pedigree. By overcoming the Aces’ elite defense and avenging an earlier loss, New York proved they can grind out wins in tight games—a blueprint for playoff success. The Cup win also cements the Liberty’s status as the league’s top team, setting a high bar for rivals and boosting their playoff momentum. The Aces’ struggles against the Liberty’s system raise questions about their ability to peak in the postseason, where matchup dynamics often decide series. Their late-game inefficiency and reliance on isolation sets suggest a need for tactical adjustments if they hope to challenge for a title.
ESPNespn.comBy Alexa PhilippouJul 1, 5:32 AMen
ESPNespn.comJul 1, 2:41 AMen
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