TEAM NOTABLES
On Wednesday, the New York Liberty (9-12) defeated the Las Vegas Aces (15-7), 116-107, in the first game of their 2022 three-game season series.
At Michelob ULTRA Arena, the Liberty finished on 57.5% (42-73) shooting from the field, a season high 58.1% (18-31) from three, and 87.5% (14-16) at the free throw line.
Tonight, the Liberty finished with a franchise-record 116 points, 18 three-pointers made and recorded a WNBA-record-tying 35 assists as a team.
New York and Las Vegas combined to set WNBA records in single-game points scored (223) and made three-point field goals (31) on the evening.
Up Next: In the team’s first back-to-back matchup this season, New York heads to Phoenix to take on the Mercury on Thursday, July 7 at 10 p.m. ET.
KEY RUNS
Q1: New York went on a 9-0 run from the 6:24 mark of the first to the 4:55 mark of the quarter.
Q2: Las Vegas opened the second on an 15-3 run through the 6:24 mark of the quarter.
Q3: The Liberty went on a 10-0 run from the 8:07 mark of the third to the 6:13 mark of the quarter to take 69-68 lead. The Aces responded with an 11-0 run from the 5:36 mark of the third to the 3:24 mark of the quarter.
Q4: The Liberty went on a 21-6 run from the 8:08 mark of the fourth to the 3:21 mark of the quarter as a part of their 33-point fourth quarter.
PLAYER NOTABLES
Five Liberty players scored in double figures in tonight’s game (Ionescu, Han, Howard, Dolson, Johannès).
Highlighted by her 19-point first half on 85.7% (6-7) shooting, Sabrina Ionescu finished with a game-high 31 points to tie her season-high scoring on 76.9% (10-13) shooting from the field, including 87.5% (7-8) from deep, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, and zero turnovers. Her five makes from three-point range in the first half on a perfect 100% (5-5) shooting marked a career high for any half, and her seven total threes on the night marked both a career high and tied the Liberty’s single-game franchise record. Tonight marked Ionescu’s second triple-double of the season and third of her career, tying her with Candace Parker for the most career triple-doubles in WNBA history. Additionally, she became the first player in league history to record a 30-point triple-double.
Han Xu finished with a career-high 24 points on 91.7% (11-12) shooting from the field, including a perfect 100% (2-2) from deep, a career-high-tying eight rebounds, and three assists – her eleventh double-digit scoring game of the season. Han also set the Liberty franchise for consecutive field goals made without a miss after shooting a perfect 10-10 from the field.
Natasha Howard totaled 18 points on 41.7% (5-12) shooting from the field, six rebounds, three assists, and a block.
Stefanie Dolson finished with 11 points on 66.7% (4-6) shooting from the floor, three assists, and one rebounds.
Marine Johannès totaled 11 points and a career-high nine assists.
For Las Vegas, A’ja Wilson totaled a team-high 29 points on 58.3% (7-12) shooting from the field, while Jackie Young finished with 24 points on 72.7% (8-11) shooting from the floor, four rebounds, and two assists.