The New York Liberty held off a late surge from the Connecticut Sun to secure an 82-75 victory on Saturday, despite a rare off-night from star player Breanna Stewart.
For much of the game, the Liberty appeared to be in control, leading by as many as 10 points in the second half. However, the Sun, who are second-to-last in the league offensively, mounted a comeback, cutting the lead to five with a 5-0 run in the fourth quarter. Coach Chris DeMarco called a timeout with 7:05 remaining, a pause that helped New York regroup.
Following the timeout, Marine Johannès sparked the Liberty offense with a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired. She then assisted Jonquel Jones for another three-pointer, and Pauline Astier converted a layup to extend the lead to eight. Connecticut called a timeout, but the Liberty maintained their advantage. Johannès later hit another crucial three-pointer, and a pass from her to Rebecca Allen resulted in a three-pointer that made the score 76-66, helping New York secure the win.
Stewart struggled offensively throughout the game, missing her first seven field goal attempts and finishing with single-digit scoring for only the second time this season. She recorded nine points, four rebounds, and two assists.
Jones was a key contributor for the Liberty, especially in the first half where she set a season high for points in a half with 19. She finished the game with a team-high 23 points and 11 rebounds, marking her 15th double-double of the season. Jones was honored before the game as part of the team's "Sun Legends" campaign, recognizing her past with the franchise as the Sun prepare to relocate to Houston next season.
This game marked the final appearance for the Liberty at Mohegan Sun Arena, the home of the Connecticut Sun, as the franchise is set to move to Houston for the next season. The Liberty had previously beaten the Sun on Thursday, 82-75, in a game where they surrendered 40 points in the fourth quarter to the league's worst offense, highlighting a tendency for inconsistency this season. The Liberty had also secured an 85-81 win against the Los Angeles Sparks on August 13, 2026, with Sabrina Ionescu playing a key role in that victory before missing Saturday's game due to a left foot injury.