The New York Liberty escaped Chicago with a hard-fought 96-95 victory over the Sky on Wednesday night at Wintrust Arena, surviving a one-point nail-biter that kept the home crowd on edge until the final buzzer.

Jonquel Jones was the engine for New York, finishing with a game-high 19 points to go along with a team-best 8 rebounds, giving the Liberty a reliable double-double threat on both ends of the floor. Pauline Astier directed the offense with 4 assists as New York’s ball movement helped generate 20 assists on the night.

The Liberty shot an efficient 50 percent from the field, connecting on 33 of 66 attempts, and were particularly sharp at the free-throw line — converting 21 of 23 attempts for a 91 percent clip. That late-game foul-shooting reliability proved critical in a contest decided by a single basket. New York also controlled the glass, pulling down 34 total rebounds, including 10 on the offensive end, giving the Liberty crucial second-chance opportunities throughout the game.

Chicago refused to go quietly. Sydney Taylor led the Sky with 24 points, providing the offensive firepower to keep the home team in contention deep into the fourth quarter. Skylar Diggins orchestrated the Chicago attack with 8 assists, while Azura Stevens contributed 6 rebounds to the effort.

Despite the spirited performance from the Sky, New York’s ability to hit shots when it mattered most — and their dominance on the boards — ultimately proved to be the difference. The Liberty also generated 7 steals and blocked 5 shots on the defensive end, adding to the pressure Chicago faced all night.

The one-point margin tells the full story of a game that could have gone either way, with the Liberty holding on just long enough to escape the Windy City with a crucial road win.