The New York Liberty survived a spirited challenge from the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, pulling away for a 113-109 victory in a high-scoring affair that kept fans on edge until the final buzzer.
Breanna Stewart was the engine driving New York’s offense, finishing as the game’s leading scorer with 29 points while also distributing 7 assists — a dual performance that underscored her value as one of the WNBA’s most complete players. Her ability to both create and convert proved critical in a game where the Sparks refused to go quietly.
Los Angeles mounted a genuine threat, led by Rae Burrell’s team-high 24 points. Nneka Ogwumike orchestrated the Sparks’ offense with a game-best 9 assists, keeping Los Angeles in rhythm throughout, while Cameron Brink hauled in a team-leading 6 rebounds to anchor the interior. Despite those individual contributions, the Sparks ultimately couldn’t close the four-point gap.
Sabrina Ionescu contributed on the glass for New York, pulling down a team-high 7 rebounds to help the Liberty finish with 28 total boards, including 7 on the offensive end that extended possessions and kept the Sparks’ defense scrambling.
The shooting numbers tell much of the story of how New York managed to win despite giving up 109 points. The Liberty were nearly unstoppable from the field, connecting on 41 of 70 field goal attempts for a blistering 59 percent clip. Even more remarkable was their performance from beyond the arc — New York drained 17 of 32 three-point attempts, good for 53 percent, a figure that made it nearly impossible for Los Angeles to build any sustained defensive momentum.
New York also converted at the free-throw line at an 88 percent rate, going 14-for-16, ensuring that late-game fouling strategies by the Sparks yielded little benefit. The Liberty’s 27 assists on 41 made baskets reflected a team moving the ball with purpose and efficiency throughout the night.
Turnovers were a blemish for New York, however, as the Liberty coughed the ball up 18 times in total. That sloppiness gave Los Angeles repeated opportunities to stay within striking distance, and the Sparks took full advantage, keeping the margin tight deep into the fourth quarter. Still, New York’s defense generated 10 steals and 7 blocks, disrupting enough Sparks possessions to offset the turnover damage.
The final score of 113-109 reflects just how competitive the contest was from wire to wire. Los Angeles showed it can compete with one of the Eastern Conference’s premier clubs, but New York’s superior shooting efficiency — particularly from three-point range — ultimately proved to be the difference-maker on this night at Crypto.com Arena.
For the Liberty, the road win in Los Angeles adds another quality result to their resume and reinforces their standing as a legitimate title contender. For the Sparks, the performance offered both encouragement and a reminder of the margin for error that separates them from the league’s elite.
