New York Liberty Make History, Start Season 8-0 in 86-78 Win Over Mystics

New York Liberty's Natasha Cloud celebrates teammate Kennedy Burke in win over the Washington Mystics. Photo Credit: Brandon Todd/New York Liberty

With the New York Liberty's 86-78 win over the Washington Mystics Tuesday night, the team has an undefeated record of 8-0.  Not only did the win make history by surpassing their previous best start of 7-0, set in 1997, but it also moved them closer to capturing the Commissioner's Cup, the WNBA's in-season tournament.

The record-breaking accomplishment came without star center Jonquel Jones, who exited in the first quarter due to an ankle injury and did not return.

"She tried to come back at halftime, but still had a little bit of pain," head coach Sandy Brondello said in her post-game press conference. "Let's just hope that it's not too bad that it will keep her out."

With Jones sidelined, forward Breanna Stewart and guard Sabrina Ionescu took control of the game. Stewart led all scorers with 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Ionescu added 13 points as the duo combined for 39 points to pace New York's balanced attack.

However, the Liberty's impressive depth proved to be the difference-maker once again. The loss of Jones early in the contest provided extended opportunities for the bench unit, and they delivered in crucial moments.

Forward Kennedy Burke continued her strong play off the bench, scoring 12 points in 20 minutes while shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range. Her sharpshooting helped the Liberty maintain their lead throughout the contest.

"That's kind of that next man up mentality – understanding we have belief in every single player on this team, and when your number's called, you got to be ready to go out and help us win a game," Ionescu said. "I think we saw, collectively, we were able to do that with obviously a big piece missing, and really proud of the bench for being able to come in and step up big for us."

Forward Isabelle Harrison was everywhere tonight with seven points, five rebounds, and two steals. During the fourth quarter, she made a crucial steal, leading to a fast break layup and drawing a foul. Additionally, guard Rebekah Gardner also contributed off the bench, scoring nine points.

While the Liberty boasts a perfect record, Brondello acknowledged areas that need attention. The team was outrebounded 39-36 by Washington, continuing a trend the coach addressed in her pre-game availability.

"We haven't fulfilled our potential yet," Brondello said. "There's areas we've got to keep getting better at, but where we're at at the moment, I like."

Stewart echoed her coach's sentiment during post-game interviews, emphasizing the team's hunger for continued improvement despite their perfect start.

"We know what we did last year and how incredible and amazing that was, but we want to be consistently better than what we were last year and consistently bring it in everything that we do," Stewart said.

Liberty's focus is clear. Every night, they're striving for another championship and continue to improve.

"The 8-0 is great, but when we focus one game at a time, that's our priority is winning the next game and winning the next game," Stewart said.  “And if we're still undefeated, then that's great.” 

With their depth being tested early and responding positively, the Liberty appears well-positioned to continue their championship pursuit while chasing WNBA history.