The New York Liberty continued their winning streak with a decisive 97-82 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Wednesday night. The game, held in New York, saw Jonquel Jones deliver an impressive performance with 22 points and 17 rebounds, leading her team to their third consecutive win. Breanna Stewart also contributed significantly, scoring 19 points, 17 of which came in the second half.

Despite the absence of guard Sabrina Ionescu, who is recovering from a back issue, the Liberty showcased their depth and resilience. Coach Chris DeMarco expressed optimism about Ionescu’s recovery, noting her improvement. The Liberty’s current record stands at 6-4.

The matchup was notable for the return of former Liberty coach Sandy Brondello, now leading the expansion team, Toronto Tempo. Brondello, who guided the Liberty to their first WNBA championship in 2024, received a warm welcome from the New York crowd. The Tempo, with a record of 5-5, saw their two-game winning streak come to an end with this loss.

New York’s victory was cemented by a strong second quarter, where they overcame an early deficit with a 15-2 run, highlighted by Satou Sabally’s two three-pointers. The Liberty maintained their lead into halftime with a score of 40-34, thanks to Jones’ dominant first-half performance. The third quarter saw Stewart come alive, adding nine points to extend the Liberty’s lead to 70-58, a margin they maintained until the final whistle.

Other WNBA Highlights

In other WNBA action, the Phoenix Mercury snapped a seven-game losing streak by defeating the Seattle Storm 72-68. Natasha Mack led the Mercury with a career-high 16 points and 10 rebounds. Despite a strong effort from Seattle’s Awa Fam, who scored 18 points, the Storm fell short, marking their fourth consecutive loss.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.