Liberty Stay Perfect with Win Over Fever
The New York Liberty defeated the Indiana Fever 90–88 on Saturday in a back-and-forth battle. Indiana trailed by as many as 15, while New York faced a deficit of 12 at one point. The Liberty remain undefeated in the young season, while the Fever fall below .500. Jonquel Jones led New York with 26 points and 12 rebounds and Sabrina Ionescu added 23 points. For Indiana, Aliyah Boston poured in 27 points, and Caitlin Clark finished with 18 points and 10 assists. Both teams saw standout performances from their stars in a game that lived up to the hype.
This game was defined by momentum swings. In the opening quarter, New York went on a 10–2 run, including a backcourt turnover by Indiana that led to free throws with 1.6 seconds left, giving the Liberty a 30–29 lead. Sabrina Ionescu made history by passing Hall of Famer Becky Hammon for fourth all-time on the Liberty’s scoring list. Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark kept Indiana close, combining for 17 points in the first. In the second quarter, Natasha Cloud hit a three-pointer to extend New York’s lead to seven with 6:40 remaining. The Liberty then went on a 12–1 run to build a solid cushion, heading into halftime up 55–46. Boston led all scorers with 17 at the break, while Clark struggled from deep, going 0–for–five from three.
Indiana dominated the third quarter. Caitlin Clark hit her first three-pointer in two games and finished with 16 points and 11 assists. The Fever outscored New York 30–13, taking a 76–68 lead into the fourth. However, New York mounted a late comeback, cutting the deficit to one with an 11–2 run. Jonquel Jones hit a clutch three to give the Liberty the lead, though Indiana quickly answered. With 2.9 seconds left, Sabrina Ionescu was fouled and calmly sank both free throws to put New York ahead 90–88. On the final possession, Natasha Cloud, whose defensive presence has been a stellar addition for the Liberty this season, was able to get a defensive stop on Clark, who couldn’t get a shot off, sealing the win for New York.
The Liberty’s win showed their ability to stay composed in a close game while keeping their perfect record intact. Indiana played hard throughout, with strong efforts from Boston and Clark, but New York’s late-game plays made the difference. Both teams showed what they’re capable of, making this one of the best matchups thus far in the season. New York will look to keep this momentum going, while Indiana will try to bounce back in their next games.
