Stewie and Liberty Blasts Lynx; Aces Survive Overtime Scare Against Sky

Friday night’s WNBA slate delivered absolute fireworks on the court. The New York Liberty turned in what was arguably their most complete, dominant performance of the season to spoil a historic night in the making. At the same time, the Las Vegas Aces had to summon every ounce of their championship grit to fend off a relentless Chicago squad in extra time.

If you missed last night’s action, here is a breakdown of how the evening unfolded.

Friday Night WNBA Scoreboard

Liberty Roar: NY Plays Season-Best Game to Deny History

The Minnesota Lynx entered the Barclays Center with history on their minds. Head coach Cheryl Reeve was just one victory away from claiming the sole title of the WNBA’s all-time winningest coach. But the New York Liberty had absolutely no intention of letting history happen on their home floor, putting together a dazzling offensive clinic in a 99-86 statement win.

The Stewie Show

Breanna Stewart didn’t just show out; she completely took over. Stewie exploded for a season-high 36 points on a hyper-efficient 14-of-19 (73.7%) from the field. She set the tone right out of the gate, torching Minnesota for 16 points in the first quarter alone on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting display.

With this performance, Stewart passed Angel McCoughtry for the third-most 30-point games in WNBA history.

“We wanted to establish our tempo early and stay aggressive,” Stewart noted after the game. “When the ball is moving like that, we’re incredibly tough to beat.”

Total Team Efficiency

While Stewart was the headliner, the entire Liberty roster played arguably their most cohesive basketball of the year.

Flawless Balance: All five New York starters scored in double figures, with each player making at least five field goals. Jonquel Jones had a monster game with 14 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals.

Historical Sharpness: Four Liberty players recorded five or more assists.

Blistering Accuracy: New York shot an incredible 58.1% from the field, marking the highest field-goal percentage any opponent has managed against Minnesota’s elite defense all season. Rookie Pauline Astier added a stellar 14 points and 6 assists to help seal the victory.

Aces Hold Off Resilient Sky in Overtime Thriller

Over at T-Mobile Arena, the Las Vegas Aces looked like they were cruising toward an easy Friday night victory before the Chicago Sky completely ripped up the script. In a game defined by wild momentum swings, the Aces ultimately relied on their veteran poise to escape with a hard-fought 98-90 overtime win.

Surviving the Sky’s Counter-Punch

Las Vegas found an unexpected hero in NaLyssa Smith, who stepped into the spotlight and dominated the interior. Smith dropped a season-high 29 points to go along with 8 rebounds, routinely punishing Chicago in the paint. Jewell Loyd provided her usual perimeter punch with 19 points, and Jackie Young added 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.

However, the Sky refused to go away quietly. Behind a gritty defensive effort and transition scoring, Chicago wiped out a late deficit in the fourth quarter to force extra time.

Chelsea Gray Closes it Out

When the game entered overtime, the Aces turned to “The Point Gawd” to steady the ship. Chelsea Gray proved exactly why she is one of the most feared clutch players in basketball. Gray finished with 18 points, scoring several crucial, contested buckets late in regulation and commanding the tempo in overtime.

Vegas suffocated Chicago in the extra five minutes, opening the overtime period on a decisive run to finally put the game out of reach and push their record to 15-5.