WASHINGTON, DC — Breanna Stewart powered the New York Liberty to their eighth straight win to start the season, tallying 26 points and 11 rebounds in an 86-78 victory over the Washington Mystics on Thursday night.
The win sets a new franchise record for the best start to a season, surpassing the 1997 Liberty squad that opened 7-0.
New York appeared in full control after Kennedy Burke drained a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter, stretching the Liberty’s lead to 73-57. But Washington didn’t fold.
The Mystics opened the fourth quarter on a 14-4 run, slicing the deficit to just six points. With three minutes to play and New York clinging to a 77-71 lead, Isabelle Harrison came up with a clutch steal and finished a fast-break layup through contact. Her three-point play restored a 10-point cushion.
Washington responded with a 6-0 spurt to make it 81-77, but Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu sealed the game at the free throw line — Stewart hitting three of four, Ionescu calmly sinking two.
Ionescu finished with 13 points and seven assists, while Burke contributed 12 points off the bench — all from beyond the arc — continuing her hot shooting from deep. The Liberty were coming off a 48-point blowout win, the largest margin in franchise history.
For the Mystics (3-6), rookie standout Kiki Iriafen led the way with 17 points, while Jade Melbourne chipped in 15.
New York built a 15-point halftime lead behind 14 first-half points from Stewart and 10 from Ionescu, capped by a corner three from Burke just before the buzzer to go up 49-34 at the break.
