In a thrilling WNBA matchup, the New York Liberty edged out the Connecticut Sun 89-81, securing a tie for the top spot in the Eastern Conference Commissioner's Cup standings. Breanna Stewart led the Liberty's charge with 24 points, while Jonquel Jones marked her return to Connecticut with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The game remained closely contested throughout the first half. The lead changed hands multiple times in the opening two quarters, with New York ultimately taking a 47-43 advantage into halftime after closing the second quarter with an 8-0 run.
Alyssa Thomas, while putting up her fifth career triple-double (11 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds) and third in the past week for Connecticut, couldn't prevent the Liberty from building an 80-68 lead with just over six minutes remaining. The Sun, however, rallied back with a 13-0 surge, capped by Thomas's layup that completed her triple-double and gave Connecticut a brief lead with 3:39 left. This marked Thomas's second consecutive triple-double.
The Liberty responded decisively, closing the game on a 9-0 run. Key contributions from Courtney Vandersloot, Betnijah Laney, and Kayla Thornton sealed the victory for New York. The Sun's offense stalled down the stretch, missing eight consecutive shots in the final minutes. DiJonai Carrington's career-high 23 points, including 17 in the second half, kept the Sun in contention for much of the game.
The game was a homecoming for Jones, a former Sun player and 2021 WNBA MVP. Connecticut honored Jones with a tribute video before the game, acknowledging her six seasons and two Finals appearances with the team. Jones scored the first basket for New York, setting the tone for a tightly fought contest. Both teams now have one game remaining in the Commissioner's Cup, with New York holding the tiebreaker advantage over Connecticut due to sweeping their head-to-head matchups. Las Vegas is poised to clinch the Western Conference slot with a dominant 6-0 record.
