Betnijah Laney-Hamilton led the charge with an impressive 20-point performance in just 25 minutes as the New York Liberty cruised to a commanding 104-68 victory over the Indiana Fever on Sunday night in their opening Commissioner’s Cup game.
The Liberty (7-2) showcased their dominance from start to finish, securing their third consecutive win and extending their winning streak against the Fever to three games this season. The Liberty’s latest victory marked a staggering 83-point combined margin of victory in their three matchups. Notably, the Liberty defense held rookie sensation Caitlin Clark to a season-low three points on 1-of-10 shooting.
Jonquel Jones continued her stellar form with 18 points and 13 rebounds, securing her second consecutive double-double. Sabrina Ionescu contributed 16 points, along with six assists and six rebounds, as the Liberty displayed an impressive shooting performance, hitting a season-best 57.6 percent from the field and dominating in the paint with 44 points.
Breanna Stewart chipped in with 13 points, while Kennedy Burke provided a valuable spark off the bench with 10 points, as the Liberty reached the 100-point mark for the second time this season, both times against the Fever. New York has now scored over 100 points in four of their last five meetings against Indiana.
Despite Kelsey Mitchell’s 21-point effort on 9-of-19 shooting, the Indiana Fever (2-9) couldn’t build on their momentum from a narrow victory over the Chicago Sky the previous day.
NaLyssa Smith added 17 points for the Fever, but their struggles from beyond the arc, shooting just 3-of-28 from 3-point range, including a 1-for-7 performance by Caitlin Clark, hindered their chances of mounting a comeback.
The Liberty seized control early, opening up a commanding 26-6 lead in the first quarter, with Stewart and Ionescu knocking down timely 3-pointers. Despite a brief surge from the Fever to cut the deficit, the Liberty maintained their dominance, heading into halftime with a comfortable 55-37 lead.
A strong third-quarter performance, highlighted by a 24-7 run, firmly put the game out of reach for the Fever as the Liberty cruised to an 81-52 lead heading into the final quarter, ultimately securing a comprehensive victory to kick off their Commissioner’s Cup campaign in style.