Breanna Stewart scored 33 factors to steer the New York Liberty to a 98–88 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday. With the victory, the Liberty improved their report to 14–3, one of the best begin after 17 video games in franchise historical past.
Final season’s squad ran out to a franchise-best 18–5 report, however the .783 profitable proportion is lower than the .824 mark this 12 months’s Liberty workforce presently has. The 2023 Liberty had a 13–4 report (.765) after 17 video games.
Stewie led the cost within the Liberty’s 98-83 win vs. the Sparks 😤
The Liberty (14-3) now have their finest begin in franchise historical past! pic.twitter.com/x3qcqzmdKn
— Yahoo Sports activities (@YahooSports) June 22, 2024
At 14–3, the Liberty nonetheless presently path the Connecticut Solar, who maintain the WNBA’s finest report at 13–2 going into Saturday’s street matchup with the Seattle Storm (9–6).
Stewart shot 12-for-19 from the ground, whereas including seven assists, six blocks and three steals. The 33 factors matches her season-high, which she additionally reached in a June 4 matchup versus the Chicago Sky. (She scored a career- and franchise-high 45 factors final season in opposition to the Indiana Fever.) Stewart additionally turned the primary participant in WNBA historical past to notch 20-plus (24) factors, 5 assists and 5 blocks in a single half of motion.
Breanna Stewart put up a MONSTER 1st half efficiency vs. the LA Sparks ⬇️
24 PTS
5 AST
5 BLK
3 STL
8-10 FG
3-5 3PTShe turns into the primary participant in WNBA Historical past to report 20+ PTS, 5+ AST, & 5+ BLK in a half! pic.twitter.com/Cw2J0AElco
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 22, 2024
Sabrina Ionescu added 24 factors, six rebounds and 9 assists for New York, whereas Kayla Thornton tallied 20 factors (taking pictures 6-for-7 on 3-pointers) and 6 rebounds.
Saturday’s win was the second consecutive over the Sparks, with the 2 groups matched up in back-to-back at Brooklyn’s Barclays Middle in a curious schedule quirk. New York additionally received on Thursday, 93–80.
Los Angeles was led by Dearica Hamby’s 20 factors, six rebounds, 5 assists and three blocks. Zia Cooke adopted with 14 factors. This was the Sparks’ second sport since star rookie Cameron Brink suffered a season-ending knee harm in Tuesday’s loss to the Solar.
The Liberty performed with out Courtney Vandersloot — who has been away from the workforce to be together with her mom, who died final weekend. New York was additionally with out Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, recovering from a knee harm, and Nyara Sabally, out with a again harm.
Up subsequent for the Liberty is a street matchup with the Atlanta Dream on Sunday earlier than getting every week off. The Sparks journey to play the Phoenix Mercury on Friday.