Stewart and Ionescu Outlast Young’s Heroics for Commisioner’s Cup

The New York Liberty just did something no other franchise in WNBA history has accomplished. With a thrilling 93-85 victory over the Las Vegas Aces at Barclays Center, the Liberty officially became the league’s first-ever two-time Commissioner’s Cup champions.

Beyond the $30,000-per-player payday and the hardware, this midseason showcase felt like a massive statement game. For a New York squad that endured a surprisingly bumpy and rough start to the season, hoisting the Cup might just be the catalyst that sparks a dominant second-half turnaround.

The Elephant Not in the Room: Life Without A’ja Wilson

You cannot tell the story of this game without addressing the massive vacancy in the paint. Las Vegas was missing four-time league MVP A’ja Wilson, who was sidelined after tweaking her right ankle over the weekend.

Wilson’s absence completely reshaped the physics of the matchup. Averaging a league-leading 25.7 points and nearly 10 rebounds a game, her missing 6’4″ frame left an irreplaceable void in the Aces’ interior defense and glass-cleaning operations.

While Aces head coach Becky Hammon tried to capitalize on a smaller, faster, five-out shooting lineup, the Liberty took full advantage early on. New York dominated the whistle, going a perfect 17-of-17 from the free-throw line in the first half alone while punishing Vegas inside en route to a 51-37 halftime lead.

Stewie and Sabrina Order a Masterclass

With a trophy on the line, New York’s superstar duo made sure the home crowd went home happy.

Sabrina Ionescu (26 points): Ionescu set the tone immediately, scoring New York’s first eight points of the night and finishing the first half with 17. When the Aces threatened late, Sabrina did what she does best—burying a cold-blooded 34-foot dagger of a three-pointer to ice the game.

Breanna Stewart (25 points, 11 rebounds): “Stewie” did the heavy lifting on the glass, anchoring the defense and securing the Commissioner’s Cup MVP honors (along with a tidy $10,000 bonus).

DOING WHAT SAB DOES BEST 🔥

She drains this three-ball to lock in the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup WIN for the @nyliberty!

LVA-NYL | Prime Video | 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup | @coinbase pic.twitter.com/zKH4ThTtpX

— WNBA (@WNBA) July 1, 2026

Jackie Young’s Furious Resistance

Despite missing their franchise anchor and falling behind by as many as 17 points, the Aces refused to roll over. That was almost entirely thanks to an absolutely legendary effort from Jackie Young.

Young put the Aces on her back, exploding for a game-high 31 points, with an unbelievable 25 of those coming in the second half. She spearheaded a furious Las Vegas rally, single-handedly turning a blowout into a dogfight and even giving the Aces a brief 71-69 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Young got the Aces within four points in the final three minutes, but a missed contested layup with 37 seconds left proved to be Vegas’s last gasp before Ionescu’s deep blast put them away for good.

The Spark for a Turnaround?

This win is a massive sigh of relief for New York. The early portion of the Liberty’s season didn’t exactly go according to script, marred by clunky chemistry and uncharacteristic lapses that left fans wondering if the championship hangover was real.

But winning a high-stakes, tournament-style championship against your fiercest rival—even a shorthapped one—can completely alter a team’s psychological trajectory. The Liberty proved they can weather an elite-level punch, execute in closing time, and lean on their superstars when the lights are brightest.

If history is any indication, the road to the WNBA Finals runs directly through the Commissioner’s Cup. With their identity rediscovered and a historic piece of silverware in the trophy case, the Liberty look ready to wreck the rest of the league.