Brooklyn, NY — In a dramatic finish, Rickea Jackson’s layup at the buzzer propelled the Los Angeles Sparks to a hard-fought 101-99 victory over the New York Liberty on Saturday night.
The Liberty faced an early setback when star forward Breanna Stewart sustained a lower leg injury just three minutes into the game. Stewart, who had recorded 3 points and 1 rebound, was forced to exit and head to the locker room. This injury marked a tough start for New York, which had already played the second leg of a back-to-back after a Friday win over Phoenix.
Despite Stewart’s absence, Sabrina Ionescu kept the Liberty competitive, finishing with an impressive 30 points. With 23.1 seconds remaining, Ionescu tied the game at 99 with a clutch elbow jumper. The Sparks, however, were determined to close out the game with a win.
Los Angeles ran down the clock before Stephanie Talbot fouled Kelsey Plum with 5.9 seconds left. The Liberty still had a foul to give, so the Sparks retained possession on the sideline. Following a timeout, Jackson took control, receiving the ball in the post and muscling through Talbot to score just before the buzzer, securing the dramatic win. Jackson finished with 24 points, while Plum added 20 for the Sparks, who have now won five consecutive games.
Despite being down by as much as 15 points early in the third quarter, the Liberty (17-7) mounted a fierce comeback. Ionescu’s three-point play with 2:18 left in the game tied the score at 95. The two teams exchanged baskets before Azura Stevens hit a layup with 1:03 remaining to put Los Angeles up 99-97.
The Liberty’s rally was built on the efforts of Natasha Cloud, who scored 10 of her 22 points in the final quarter, alongside Ionescu’s brilliance. New York trailed 74-69 heading into the fourth, but their late surge showed their resilience, even without Stewart on the floor.
Los Angeles (11-14) took control early, shooting an impressive 13-for-19 from the field in the first quarter, including seven 3-pointers. Jackson was red-hot, scoring 17 points in the opening period as the Sparks surged to a 35-20 lead. They carried that momentum into the second quarter, heading into halftime with a 58-45 advantage after hitting 10 of 18 from beyond the arc.
