Sabrina Ionescu delivered a classic efficiency when the Liberty desperately wanted it.
With many followers at Barclays Center donning the neon, construction-themed shirts distributed as half of a Ionescu giveaway, she delivered 30 factors, eight rebounds, six assists and 4 steals for a Liberty group attempting to adapt with out an injured Breanna Stewart during their 101-99 loss to the Sparks on Saturday.
Ionescu grew to become the fourth player in WNBA historical past to report that statline — becoming a member of Caitlin Clark, Candace Parker and Brandy Reed, according to the team.
“Just trying to play my game, and read when the defense gives me,” Ionescu said. “Continue to find ways to facilitate and be the best that I can for this offense. Obviously, we were down players that normally score a lot for us, so trying to get some easy ones, finding the shot in the midrange, get to the basket, to the free-throw line. Just kind of do what I do every single night and find a way to try and win.”
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) seems towards the referee in response to a no-call after scoring a basket during the second half of a recreation against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
Ionescu poured in 17 factors during the first half, but Los Angeles contained her for the third quarter and the early portion of the fourth.
But that’s when Ionescu took over, and she tied the recreation with just over two minutes left after changing an and-one.
Then, she hit a pair of jumpers in the remaining minutes to assist reply the Sparks, following up her 29-point efficiency against the Mercury on Friday with her third 30-point recreation of the season one evening later.
When the Liberty wanted someone to assist change the manufacturing of Stewart down the stretch, Ionescu, alongside with Natasha Cloud (22 factors) transformed in key spots.
Sabrina Ionescu (20) drives to the basket previous Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) during the first half. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
But after the Liberty couldn’t get a cease on the remaining possession, Ionescu, who entered the evening averaging a career-high 18.9 factors per recreation and made a fourth consecutive All-Star Game, never got another likelihood to guarantee her dominant evening ended with a victory.
Kennedy Burke only performed 6:08 and was dominated out with cramping, head coach Sandy Brondello said. Leonie Fiebich, who completed with 10 factors, had her hand wrapped after injuring it Friday.
New York Liberty’s Kennedy Burke (22) defends Phoenix Mercury’s Kahleah Copper (2) during the first half of a recreation at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Friday, July 25, 2025. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
With her block, Jonquel Jones moved into seventh place on the Liberty’s all-time blocks checklist with 114, passing Janel McCarville.
Stephanie Talbot, signed by the Liberty this week after getting waived by the Valkyries, logged 17 minutes — her most since arriving in Brooklyn — and was on the court docket during the remaining moments of the recreation. She went 0-for-2 from the discipline and collected 4 rebounds.
“It’s hard for her,” Brondello said. “She’s hardly practiced.”
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