New York got it done last night, taking down Las Vegas 93-86 in Tuesday’s Aces vs Liberty showdown, becoming the league’s first two-time WNBA Commissioner’s Cup champion.
With Aces superstar A’ja Wilson sidelined, Liberty vets Sabrina Ionescu and Cup MVP Breanna Stewart combined for 51 of New York’s 93 points.
“I’m just really proud of the mindset and the mentality of this team,” Stewart said. “We were going to do whatever it took to get this win.”
Ionescu provided the spark New York needed, after the recently returned guard hit a dagger 3-pointer to seal the win with 15.7 seconds left.
“She’s too good,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said of Ionescu. “I don’t know if anybody's noticed in this crowd, [but] she likes big moments and big shots.”
“I’ve always continued to have that belief in myself,” said Ionescu. “An injury or two is not going to diminish my understanding of who I am, and the work that I’ve put in to get to where I’m at today.”
Both teams feature in Friday’s ION double-header, as New York hosts league-leader Minnesota at 7:30 PM, before Las Vegas faces Chicago at 10 PM ET.
New York came out on top last night, as the No. 4 Liberty downed the No. 3 Aces 87-76 in a sneak peek of next week’s Liberty vs Aces WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final.
New York’s Sabrina Ionescu registered a season-best 16 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists as she continues her return from injury.
“I’m just better and better every day,” she said postgame. “My body’s feeling better, getting back into the rhythm of playing competitive basketball.”
The Liberty is now a half-game behind Las Vegas in the WNBA standings, relying on depth and superstar power to shake off two tight losses.
Two-time MVP Breanna Stewart and four-time MVP A’ja Wilson squared off in the matchup, as Stewart edged her frontcourt counterpart with 20 points and six rebounds to Wilson’s 16 points and nine rebounds.
“We’ve kind of been going back and forth and going at it for years now,” Stewart said of Wilson. “Anytime we do it, we know it’s a big moment.”
Both teams return tomorrow at 10 PM ET, as the Aces face the Wings (NBA TV) while New York takes on Seattle (WNBA League Pass).
The NY Liberty is looking to right the ship, as New York enters tonight’s Mercury vs Liberty clash on a three-game losing streak amid a mounting early-season injury list.
New York fell to expansion side Portland 81-74 on Monday, wrapping up this season’s series against the Fire on an unexpected 1-2 record.
“It’s a learning experience,” said forward Breanna Stewart. “Not to say that we thought it was gonna be easy, because we definitely didn’t, but it’s gonna take time.”
The Liberty has only fielded its Big 4 — Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, and offseason signing Satou Sabally — once this year, with Sabally and Ionescu seeing limited minutes due to injury and illness.
“I’m glad it’s now and not later,” guard Rebecca Allen said of New York’s early struggles. “When this happens towards the end of the season, that’s when you see the wheels fall off, and it’s hard to regroup. Whereas right now, we’ve got the luxury of time.”
The Liberty faces a similarly motivated Mercury team, as Phoenix carries its own three-game losing streak into Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
New York hosts Phoenix tonight at 7 PM ET, live on USA.
The Valkyries defeated the Liberty 87-70 on Thursday night, controlling the tempo from the opening tip. Five Golden State players scored in double figures, led by Gabby Williams with 16 points, while New York suffered without Sabrina Ionescu.
The decisive blowout spoiled the highly anticipated season debut of New York’s free-agent signing, Satou Sabally.
Sabally returned to action following a lengthy recovery from a concussion, recording five points and four rebounds in her first game with the franchise. Meanwhile, the Liberty offense struggled to find a rhythm without star playmaker Ionescu, who remained sidelined due to an ongoing foot injury.
Satou Sabally Returns From WNBA Concussion Protocol
Fans tracking Sabally's injury status finally got answers on Thursday.
The 27-year-old forward missed the start of the regular season while recovering from a cyst and a concussion sustained during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals with Phoenix last year.
After her long break, Sabally received a warm ovation from the home crowd in her first appearance for New York. She started the game and logged 16.5 minutes on the floor, providing a foundational piece for the team's frontcourt.
Sabrina Ionescu Injury Update: Liberty Offense Stalls in Loss
With Sabally back, the bigger question for New York remains the status of their star point guard.
Ionescu originally sustained a left foot and ankle injury during a preseason matchup against the Connecticut Sun. Although she returned to practice this week, she was ultimately ruled out just before tipoff.
Without Ionescu, Golden State disrupted the Liberty's rhythm early in the game. New York had averaged 100 points per game over their first four contests, but they found little room to breathe against the Valkyries' defensive pressure.
Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Jonquel Jones added 16 points. But the rest of the roster struggled to find efficient shots, and the Liberty finished the night shooting just 6-for-24 from three-point range.
While New York looked for answers on offense, Golden State capitalized on transition opportunities, building a comfortable nine-point lead in the first quarter. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Valkyries extended the margin to 63-46 and never looked back.
Golden State has a quick turnaround this week, heading to Indiana to face the Fever tonight while the Liberty takes on the Dallas Wings at home on Sunday.
New York is shoring up its WNBA injury report, hoping to see sidelined starter Sabrina Ionescu make her season debut in tonight's Liberty vs Valkyries matchup.
Star guard Ionescu returned to practice this week after missing the first four games with a foot injury. New signing Satou Sabally also joined training after dealing with a cyst. However, both players remain game-time decisions.
“We will see how they feel tomorrow,” Liberty coach Chris DeMarco said Wednesday.
Should Ionescu and Sabally suit up, they’ll be deepening the bench for a 3-1 New York team starting to click under its new coach.
Veterans Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones have shown consistent production. Guard Pauline Astier sits atop the rookie scoresheet, and the team expects Leonie Fiebich’s imminent return from Spain’s Valencia.
“It’s a new team and we have to get used to playing with each other,” said DeMarco.
“What we can do as a staff and players as a whole is continue to have the right space and understand, if a defense takes something away it means something else is open.”
Where to Watch Sabrina Ionescu in Liberty vs Valkyries
The Liberty hosts the Valkyries tonight at 8 PM ET, live on Prime.
The WNBA injuries report is already starting to pile up, as new knocks and lengthy recoveries impact teams before they even step foot on a regular-season court.
New York star Sabrina Ionescu will miss at least two weeks of action. The star guard rolled her ankle during the Liberty’s preseason win over Connecticut.
"Obviously wasn't good to see," Liberty forward Jonquel Jones of Ionescu's fall. "I was able to check in with our [trainer] and stuff during the game to make sure she's OK."
The injury involves the same left foot that sidelined her for much of her 2020 WNBA rookie season. However, an MRI indicated Ionescu avoided major injury.
As teams continue trimming rosters, short-term WNBA injuries will likely spur leaner squads as key players make their way back to the court.
Chicago’s Azurá Stevens is expected to sit out the Sky’s opener. And Golden State could enter the regular season without Kate Martin due to a Grade 2 quad strain.
"Kate Martin has been diagnose with a grade two quad strain, per Valkyries. She will be diagnosed in one week (May 5)," tweeted ESPN's Kendra Andrews.
"Golden State doesn't have any more preseason games, but the Valks' season opens May 8, so depending on her what her evaluation says, Martin could be at risk at missing game play."
Indiana might also be short-staffed, as guard Lexie Hull continues to navigate a hamstring injury. And later, center Monique Billings exited the Fever’s final preseason game with an ankle knock.
"They're going to keep evaluating day-by-day and give her an opportunity to make sure she's as close to 100% as possible," Fever coach Stephanie White said, updating reporters on Billings's injury status.
Sabrina Ionescu is staying with the New York Liberty despite entering WNBA free agency, reinforcing the team's core as it looks to contend again in 2026.
Ionescu confirmed her decision shortly after Breanna Stewart made her own announcement, signaling early stability for the 2024 WNBA champions. Both players entered the offseason as unrestricted free agents, making their choices a major storyline across the league.
Stewart first addressed her plans on her podcast Game Recognize Game with Stewie & Myles.
"I’m gonna just set the record straight here — I will be staying in New York,” she said. “I’m not planning on taking any free agency meetings… My family is set up here. We’re solid here. I’m going to be back in New York and that’s all there is to it.”
Hours later, Ionescu echoed that message to reporters via ESPN's Alexa Philippou.
“I’m where I’m supposed to be… so excited to be able to sign… and be able to start our season and get going in New York,” she said.
The move keeps the Liberty's foundation intact. Ionescu averaged 18.2 points and 5.7 assists last season. She'll continue to operate as the team's primary backcourt playmaker while contributing on both ends. Alongside Stewart and forward Jonquel Jones, she helped establish the Liberty as a WNBA powerhouse in recent years.
Free agency arrives at a pivotal moment, with both expansion and existing roster movement creating new pressure across the league. New York, however, is removing uncertainty early by retaining some of its top talent.
Now, the focus shifts to the rest of the roster. With Ionescu set to return, the Liberty move forward in free agency with a backcourt leader in place and expectations unchanged.
The New York Liberty reportedly landed a boss, with multiple sources linking longtime Golden State Warriors assistant coach Chris DeMarco to the 2024 WNBA champions' head coaching vacancy late last week.
After first joining the Warriors as an intern in 2012, the 40-year-old worked through the Golden State ranks to serve in both an assistant and player development capacity for the NBA side.
Exiting as as front-of-bench assistant, DeMarco aided the team to an impressive four NBA championships (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022) during his tenure.
DeMarco also has experience on the international sideline, leading the Bahama men's national team from June 2019 until August 2025.
Recent WNBA hiring trends have favored NBA vets, with Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Alex Sarama recently named head coach of 2026 expansion side Portland while Seattle tapped former Memphis Grizzlies assistant Sonia Raman as the Storm's new sideline leader.
According to ESPN, additional top candidates for the New York Liberty opening vacated by now-Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello included Toronto Raptors assistant Jama Mahlalela, ex-Brooklyn Nets and current Charlotte Hornets assistant Will Weaver, and former assistant to the NBA's Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks Kristi Toliver, the current associate head coach for the Phoenix Mercury.
As all but two Liberty players enter free agency, New York is aiming to keep stars like Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu on its roster — with the hiring of DeMarco potentially playing game-changer in some of those contract negotiations.
ESPN reported that Bay Area product Ionescu apparently reached out to Golden State Warriors icon Steph Curry to ask about DeMarco as part of the hiring process.
New offseason league Project B is raising more than eyebrows, with the international upstart reportedly far exceeding WNBA salaries as it builds out its pro women's basketball roster ahead of a planned 2026 debut.
According to Front Office Sports (FOS), Project B is offering athletes like inaugural signee Nneka Ogwumike multimillion dollar salaries, with indications that multi-year deals could see paydays reach upwards of eight figures.
Project B also gave the Seattle Storm star equity in the venture, putting WNBA stakeholders on edge as CBA negotiations continue to simmer Stateside.
Sources also reportedly told FOS that the budding league has already signed additional WNBA players.
While the winter league's F1-style tournament structure doesn't directly compete with the WNBA calendar, history shows that players will sometimes de-prioritized domestic league play if offered enough money to compete overseas.
One of the most notable instances of this occurred when now-retired superstar Diana Taurasi sat out the entire 2015 WNBA season after top EuroLeague side UMMC Ekaterinburg paid her $1.5 million to forgo that summer's competition.
Other offseason leagues are also making financial inroads that supersede the WNBA's current salary offerings, with 54 WNBA players set to take the Unrivaled 3×3 court in the winter league's 2026 season in January — including equity-holder Paige Bueckers.
Even more, big names like four-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson, 2024 Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark, 2024 champion Sabrina Ionescu, and two-time All-Star Angel Reese opted out of joining the 2026 Unrivaled season, leaving some speculating that seven-figure deals could see those stars instead eyeing a jump to Project B.
Ultimately, the reports of additional options for lucrative offseason contracts only increases the drama surrounding the US league's ongoing CBA negotiations, putting even more pressure on the WNBA to offer an attractive financial agreement to its athletes.
The season two roster for Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball is officially complete, with the offseason league announcing its final three players on Thursday — and revealing that some big names from the venture's inaugural campaign will not feature on the 2026 court.
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese will not return for Unrivaled's second season, though league EVP and GM Clare Duwelius told The Athletic this week that they had "lots of conversations" with the players.
DiJonai Carrington will miss the 2026 campaign as well, as a mid-foot sprain suffered during September's WNBA Playoffs forced the Minnesota Lynx guard to withdraw from next year's competition.
With Carrington leaving the eight-team league's final open roster spots at three, Unrivaled rounded out their 2026 numbers with Chicago Sky guard Rebecca Allen, Indiana Fever guard Aari McDonald, and Seattle Storm center and 2025 WNBA Draft overall No. 2 pick Dominique Malonga.
Malonga joins the 3×3 upstart after abruptly terminating her overseas contract with Turkish club Fenerbahçe following a post-WNBA season wrist surgery.
Unrivaled also dropped the list of their 2026 head coaches this week, with returning managers Nola Henry and Teresa Weatherspoon joined by fresh faces including ex-Storm boss Noelle Quinn.
How to watch Unrivaled in 2026
Unrivaled will tip off its expanded 2026 season on January 5th, with live coverage airing on TNT.