Oregon women's basketball all-time great Sabrina Ionescu scored 23 points with seven assists and four steals as she led New York to an 85-66 victory over the Chicago Sky Tuesday night at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn.
The Liberty became just the ninth team in league history to start a season 9-0. They're in a first-place tie with the eighth, the Minnesota Lynx, the team they beat for their first WNBA Championship in October.
Another Duck, forward Nyara Sabally got the first start of her pro career, connecting for nine points in just 15 minutes, 4-4 from the field with three rebounds and an assist.
At the game Ionescu shared a poignant moment with Vanessa Bryant and Kobe Bryant's surviving daughters, who attended courtside. Bryant was a mentor to the Oregon star when she was coming up, and she patterned her game after the intense, Mamba-mentality Laker star.
It’s always a special reunion between @sabrina_i20 & the Bryant family ♥️♾️ pic.twitter.com/vdKWHDhoN5
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) June 11, 2025
Ionescu's big night included 9-14 from the floor and 3-3 at the line. She buried a deep three to give the champions a 67-42 lead in the third quarter.
SA-3️⃣-NA ALLL THE WAY LIVE FROM THE BRONX 😭🎯 pic.twitter.com/DdXaDMV1ur
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) June 11, 2025
On Saturday the Liberty travel to Indiana to face Caitlin Clark and the Fever at noon on ABC. Clark has been out since May 24 with a left quad strain, missing five games.
The 2024 Rookie of the Year has returned to practice but is still limited.