New York Liberty’s 22-0 Fourth Quarter Run Secures Sixth Straight Victory, Closing in on Playoff’s Top Spot
The New York Liberty displayed an impressive performance in their recent game against the Chicago Sky, securing their sixth consecutive victory with a remarkable 22-0 run in the fourth quarter. Led by Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot’s double-doubles, the Liberty triumphed over the Sky with a final score of 86-69.
Stewart exhibited a dominant performance, contributing 26 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists, marking her 19th double-double of the season. Vandersloot, facing her former team, made a significant impact with 20 points, 10 assists, six steals, and five rebounds. Betnijah Laney also had a strong contribution, scoring 17 points, while Jocelyn Willoughby added 10 points off the bench.
With this victory, the New York Liberty, currently standing at 30-7, is closing in on the top spot in the playoffs. They trail the Las Vegas Aces by only 1 1/2 games, creating an exciting race to secure the coveted position.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Sky, with a record of 15-22, entered the game tied with the Los Angeles Sparks for the final playoff spot. Kahleah Copper led the Sky’s efforts with an impressive 23-point performance. However, the loss to the Liberty puts pressure on the Sky to secure their playoff position, especially considering the tiebreaker advantage the Chicago team holds over the Sparks. Having won three out of their four matchups this season, the Sky’s fate lies in their hands.
In another thrilling game, the Indiana Fever defeated the Dallas Wings in overtime with a score of 97-84, preventing the Wings from clinching the fourth seed in the playoffs. Kelsey Mitchell and NaLyssa Smith fueled the Fever’s victory, both scoring 30 points. Mitchell displayed exceptional shooting skills, hitting seven 3-pointers in the game. Aliyah Boston, the top pick in this year’s draft, also made a notable contribution with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, marking her 10th double-double of the season.
Despite a valiant effort from the Wings’ Satou Sabally and Arike Ogunbowale, who both scored 22 points, the team fell short of securing homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Natasha Howard and Crystal Dangerfield also made significant contributions with 15 and 11 points, respectively. Teaira McCowan’s double-double, consisting of 12 points and 10 rebounds, added to her impressive season performance.
The Indiana Fever’s victory denied the Wings the opportunity to secure a playoff berth after their previous win against the Fever on Friday night. While the Fever will unfortunately miss the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season, their 12 victories this season surpass the total number of wins they achieved in the past two seasons combined.
Overall, these thrilling matchups in the WNBA further intensify the competition as teams vie for their playoff positions. The New York Liberty’s remarkable winning streak, Chicago Sky’s fight for a playoff spot, and the Indiana Fever’s upset victory contribute to the excitement surrounding the end of the regular season. WNBA fans eagerly anticipate the playoffs and witness which teams will ultimately secure their spots in the battle for the championship.
Read More: [AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball]
