Bronx, NY — The New York Liberty continued their historic start to the 2025 WNBA season with a commanding 85-66 victory over the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night, becoming just the ninth team in league history to begin a season 9-0.
New York wasted no time asserting its dominance, opening the game with a 12-0 run and never looking back. The team’s aggressive defense and smooth offensive execution set the tone early as they built a comfortable lead.
Sabrina Ionescu led the charge with 23 points and seven assists, orchestrating the offense with precision and poise. Breanna Stewart added a well-rounded performance with 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, contributing on both ends of the floor.
One of the highlight moments came just before halftime when Kennedy Burke drilled a wide-open corner three off a slick no-look assist from Ionescu, sending the Liberty into the break with a 52-32 lead. Ionescu and Stewart combined for 27 points in the first half alone.
The Liberty didn’t let up after halftime. They closed the third quarter on an 11-0 run and opened the fourth with six unanswered points, stretching the lead to 76-42. By that point, the game was all but sealed.
Kennedy Burke finished the night with 15 points, including three triples. Nyara Sabally, stepping into the starting lineup for the injured Jonquel Jones (ankle), chipped in nine points in just 15 minutes in her first career start.
For Chicago (2-6), Angel Reese recorded a season-high 17 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Her 30th career double-double came in just her 42nd game, setting a WNBA record for the fastest to reach that milestone.
Sky rookie Hailey Van Lith had a small personal win, knocking down her first career WNBA three-pointer with just over a minute left in the game.
The Sky were plagued by turnovers, giving the ball away 22 times and managing just 28 field goals as they struggled to find rhythm against New York’s suffocating defense.
Meanwhile, Chicago also shared tough news earlier this week. The team confirmed that veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot suffered a torn ACL, sidelining her for the season. Vandersloot, who helped lead New York to a WNBA title last year, had returned to Chicago this season.
With Tuesday’s win, the Liberty not only preserved their perfect record but also etched their name deeper into WNBA history as one of the league’s most dominant season starters.
NEW YORK — The New York Liberty continued their historic start to the 2025 WNBA season with a commanding 85-66 victory over the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night, becoming just the ninth team in league history to begin a season 9-0.
New York wasted no time asserting its dominance, opening the game with a 12-0 run and never looking back. The team’s aggressive defense and smooth offensive execution set the tone early as they built a comfortable lead.
Sabrina Ionescu led the charge with 23 points and seven assists, orchestrating the offense with precision and poise. Breanna Stewart added a well-rounded performance with 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, contributing on both ends of the floor.
One of the highlight moments came just before halftime when Kennedy Burke drilled a wide-open corner three off a slick no-look assist from Ionescu, sending the Liberty into the break with a 52-32 lead. Ionescu and Stewart combined for 27 points in the first half alone.
The Liberty didn’t let up after halftime. They closed the third quarter on an 11-0 run and opened the fourth with six unanswered points, stretching the lead to 76-42. By that point, the game was all but sealed.
Kennedy Burke finished the night with 15 points, including three triples. Nyara Sabally, stepping into the starting lineup for the injured Jonquel Jones (ankle), chipped in nine points in just 15 minutes in her first career start.
For Chicago (2-6), Angel Reese recorded a season-high 17 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Her 30th career double-double came in just her 42nd game, setting a WNBA record for the fastest to reach that milestone.
Sky rookie Hailey Van Lith had a small personal win, knocking down her first career WNBA three-pointer with just over a minute left in the game.
The Sky were plagued by turnovers, giving the ball away 22 times and managing just 28 field goals as they struggled to find rhythm against New York’s suffocating defense.
Meanwhile, Chicago also shared tough news earlier this week. The team confirmed that veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot suffered a torn ACL, sidelining her for the season. Vandersloot, who helped lead New York to a WNBA title last year, had returned to Chicago this season.
With Tuesday’s win, the Liberty not only preserved their perfect record but also etched their name deeper into WNBA history as one of the league’s most dominant season starters.
