| GAME LEADERS | NEW YORK | LOS ANGELES |
| POINTS | Ionescu (31) | McDonald (15) |
| REBOUNDS | Fiebich (9) | Talbot (11) |
| ASSISTS | Ionescu (9) | Burrell (4) |
TEAM NOTABLES
On Thursday, the New York Liberty (13-3) defeated the Los Angeles Sparks (4-12), 93-80.
At 13-3, the 2024 Liberty are tied for the team’s best record through 16 games in franchise history, matching New York’s 13-3 start in 1997.
The Liberty have won nine of their last 10 games, which is tied for the third-best 10-game span in Liberty franchise history.
With Sabrina Ionescu’s 31-point performance, New York is the only team in the league with a 30-point game from three different players this season, along with Breanna Stewart (2x) and Jonquel Jones.
New York had four starters with five or more assists for the fourth time this season after never accomplishing this feat prior to 2024. No other team in WNBA history has had four or more starters record at least five assists more than twice within the same season, per Across the Timeline.
The duo of Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones became the first pair of teammates in WNBA history to record at least 20 points and eight assists in the same game, according to ESPN.
Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones combined for 17 assists, which was just one fewer than the 18 assists allowed by the Liberty’s defense all game.
The Liberty outrebounded the Sparks by four in the win. New York is now 11-1 this season in games where the Liberty equaled or surpassed their opponent’s rebounding total.
Up Next: The New York Liberty will face the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday, June 22 at 3:00 p.m. ET at Barclays Center.
KEY RUNS
Q1: New York went on a 15-4 run from the 5:36 mark of the first to the 1:42 mark of the first quarter.
Q2: No significant runs in the second quarter.
Q3: New York went on a 13-0 run from the 2:49 mark of the third to the 0:51 mark of the third quarter.
Q4: Los Angeles went on a 21-9 run from the 0:04 mark of the third to the 2:56 mark of the final quarter.
PLAYER NOTABLES
Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty offense with a season-high 31 points and added a season-high six three-pointers to extend her streak of regular-season games with at least one made three-pointer to 41, a Liberty franchise record and the longest active streak in the WNBA. With the 12th 30-point game of her career, Ionescu tied Cappie Pondexter for the most 30-point games in Liberty franchise history.
With at least eight assists for the fourth consecutive game, Sabrina Ionescu tied the second-longest streak of eight or more assists in franchise history. Ionescu added nine assists and two rebounds to go along with two steals. Ionescu also had five assists in the second quarter for her ninth career quarter with five or more assists, which is the most in Liberty franchise history.
One game after tying her career high with seven assists against Phoenix on Tuesday, Jonquel Jones set her new career-high for most with eight against Los Angeles, which is the most by a center so far this season. The 2023 Commissioner’s Cup MVP and 2021 WNBA MVP became the first center in Liberty franchise history to record at least seven assists in consecutive games, per Elias Sports Bureau.
Jonquel Jones, who is the only center averaging better than three assists per game in 2024, also tied her career-high for most assists in a single half with five in the first half against the Sparks. Jones added 22 points on 64% (9-14) shooting from the field and 40% (2-5) shooting from beyond the arc to go along with seven rebounds and two steals.
Breanna Stewart scored 17 points, four assists, four rebounds, three blocks and a steal against the Sparks. Stewart scored 12 of her 17 points in the second half to help the Liberty pull away after halftime. Stewart’s six games with four or more stocks (steals plus blocks) are tied for the fourth-most in the WNBA so far this season.
With three points, nine rebounds and five assists in the first start of her WNBA career, Leonie Fiebich joined Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese as the only 2024 rookies to record at least five rebounds and five assists in a single game. After the second multi-steal game of her career, Fiebich is one of five 2024 rookies to record multiple steals in consecutive games.
Ivana Dojkić scored in double figures for the first time this season with 12 points on 50% (3-6) shooting from beyond the arc. Dojkić’s +16 plus-minus is tied for the highest plus-minus by any Liberty reserve so far this season.
Marquesha Davis made the first field goal of her career with a jump shot at 5:54 of the second quarter. Davis tied her career-high with two points in the win.