Liberty Storm Back Behind Ionescu and Stewart to Defeat Dream 86–81
- Dante
- Jun 18
- 2 min read

The New York Liberty showcased resilience and star power Tuesday night as they rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit to defeat the Atlanta Dream, 86–81. Sabrina Ionescu led the comeback with her second consecutive 34-point performance, while Breanna Stewart added 23 points, including two critical baskets in the game’s final minutes. The Liberty (10–1) found themselves trailing 64–47 midway through the third quarter, the largest deficit they have faced this season. However, Ionescu’s hot shooting and Stewart’s leadership fueled a 13–4 run to close the third, cutting the deficit to eight. Stewart’s go-ahead layup with under two minutes left, followed by another close-range basket, sealed the win for New York. This game marked the conclusion of the WNBA’s Commissioner’s Cup games. Despite the win, the Liberty did not advance to the Cup final due to a tiebreaker held by the Indiana Fever, who had beaten New York earlier in the week and defeated Connecticut 88–71 on Tuesday. Both Atlanta and New York entered the game with 3–1 Cup records.
Jonquel Jones contributed a double-double for New York with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Natasha Cloud’s and-one play tied the game at 76 late in the fourth, setting up the dramatic finish. On the other side, the Dream (8–4) were led by rookie Te-Hina Paopao, who scored all 16 of her points in the first half, shooting 6-for-7 from the field with four three-pointers. Allisha Gray added 14 points, while Brionna Jones and Rhyne Howard chipped in 13 apiece. Though the Liberty fell short of a Commissioner’s Cup berth, the win solidifies their dominance in the league and demonstrates their ability to battle through adversity. Ionescu and Stewart, two of the WNBA’s brightest stars, continue to shine under pressure, reinforcing New York’s status as a title contender.