CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR: Liberty’s Late Surge Can’t Dig Them Out of Early Hole vs. LA by NWO Sparrow

Sparks Stun Liberty in Nail-Biter as Ionescu's Heroics Fall Short

Brooklyn , NY — The Liberty’s late-game rally fell just short in a heart-stopping 101-99 loss to the Sparks on Friday night, snapping New York’s four-game win streak despite Sabrina Ionescu’s historic 30-point, 8-rebound, 6-assist masterpiece. The Liberty (17-7) dug themselves into an early 15-point hole after a disastrous first quarter but stormed back behind Ionescu’s four steals (tying a season high) and Natasha Cloud’s 22-point, 9-assist gem—only to watch Dearica Hamby sink the game-winning layup with 3.2 seconds left. Los Angeles (11-14) rode Chelsea Jackson’s 24 points and 10 assists from Julie Allemand to pull off the upset, handing New York just its second loss in 10 games.

Ionescu’s stat line—joining elite company as just the fourth WNBA player ever with 30-8-6-4—wasn’t enough to overcome New York’s sluggish start. Jonquel Jones (12 points, 8 rebounds) climbed to 7th on the franchise blocks list, but the Liberty’s defense surrendered 35 first-quarter points, their worst opening period of the season. Though they outscored the Sparks 54-39 in the second half, closing the gap to one possession six times in the fourth quarter, crucial misses on two potential go-ahead shots in the final minute sealed their fate.

Standout Moments That Defined the Game

Even in a tough loss, Sabrina Ionescu reminded everyone why she’s one of the most electrifying players in the league—dropping 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists to tie Breanna Stewart for the second-most 30-5-5 games in WNBA history. That’s superstar stuff. And let’s not overlook Natasha Cloud’s near-flawless floor game—her 9.00 assist-to-turnover ratio isn’t just elite, it’s the second-best mark in the entire league this season. This backcourt duo was cooking, even when the rest of the team took a minute to find their rhythm.

What’s wild is that, despite the loss, the Liberty are still sharing the title of the WNBA’s best three-point shooting team (35.7%) with the Sparks. And that free-throw streak? Five straight games hitting 85% or better from the line—tying the league’s best run this year. So yeah, the ending stung, but the Liberty’s fundamentals? Still top-tier. This team isn’t slipping; they just got caught on an off night. The numbers don’t lie.

Friday’s loss stings, but it doesn’t erase the Liberty’s status as title contenders. Even on an off night, they clawed back from 15 down against a desperate Sparks team—a testament to their resilience. Ionescu’s MVP-caliber play (leading the league in 30-point games) and Cloud’s floor generalship (now 9th all-time in 20/9 games) prove this team’s ceiling remains sky-high. What cost them wasn’t talent; it was execution. The first-quarter lethargy (20 points on 38% shooting) forced them into a chase scenario, wasting energy they needed to close.

The Liberty must rediscover their killer instinct to create separation earlier. This season, they’re 0-5 when trailing after Q1—a stark contrast to their 12-0 record when leading at halftime. With the playoffs looming, they can’t rely solely on comebacks. Stewart’s quiet night (11 points on 4-of-12 FG) highlighted how even slight dips from stars strain the offense. Yet their league-leading offense (87.9 PPG) and three-point dominance suggest this was a blip, not a trend.

What’s encouraging? The Liberty’s depth still shone. Betnijah Laney’s 14 points off the bench kept them afloat, and their 17-for-19 FT shooting (89.5%) shows clutch DNA. But to avoid playoff pitfalls, they must tighten rotations earlier—especially against physical defenses like LA’s that switch aggressively on screens.

Bottom line: This loss is a wake-up call, not a crisis. The Liberty have the pieces to repeat as champs, but as Friday proved, every quarter matters. If they turn this into fuel, August could be a revenge tour.

Next Up: The Liberty head to Phoenix to face the Mercury on Sunday, while the Sparks host Chicago.

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