Brooklyn, NY — Natasha Cloud’s explosive third-quarter performance led the New York Liberty to a thrilling 89-79 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night at Barclays Center. Cloud, who finished with 23 points, ignited a pivotal run that turned the tide in the Liberty’s favor.
Breanna Stewart posted a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds, while Sabrina Ionescu added 20 points in the win. Despite a slow start, New York (12-5) used a powerful second-half surge to overcome a 53-42 deficit midway through the third quarter.
Cloud’s dynamic play was the catalyst. A key three-point play sparked a 13-0 run for the Liberty, followed by an impressive stretch from Ionescu, who scored 10 consecutive points. New York quickly shifted the momentum, taking a 63-59 lead heading into the final frame.
The Liberty’s defense continued to stifle the Sparks, extending their lead to 69-59 by the end of the third. Los Angeles (5-13) made a late push, trimming the deficit to just five points with 3:30 remaining. However, Leonie Fiebich delivered a clutch three-pointer, sealing the victory for New York.
Dearica Hamby was the standout performer for Los Angeles, scoring a team-high 25 points. The Sparks also received a boost with the return of Rae Burrell, who made her first appearance since suffering a knee injury in the season opener. Burrell checked into the game late in the first quarter, playing 12 minutes and finishing with five points.
The game also marked the debut of Julie Vanloo for Los Angeles, who was picked up off waivers just hours before tip-off. Vanloo entered the game in the second quarter, contributing two minutes of play.
New York was still without star forward Jonquel Jones, who has been sidelined with a sprained ankle. Jones has been progressing well in her recovery, but has yet to provide a timeline for her return. The Liberty did, however, welcome back Fiebich, who had been competing with Germany in the EuroBasket tournament over the past few weeks.
At halftime, Los Angeles held a narrow 41-37 lead, with Hamby contributing 10 points. Stewart led the Liberty at the break with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Liberty guard Marine Johannes also provided some early highlights. In the first half, Johannes drained a buzzer-beating three-pointer while fading away from the basket, and later dazzled with a behind-the-back, no-look assist to Stewart for an easy layup.
