The New York Liberty (1-1) defeated the Indiana Fever (0-2) 90-73 in the first game of their four-game season series in 2023 on Sunday.
The Liberty shot 48.5% (33-68) from the field, 48.3% (14-29) from three, and 90.9% (10-11) from the free throw line at Barclays Center.
New York set a franchise first-quarter scoring record with 36 points, and their six three-pointers fell one short of breaking the franchise’s first-quarter record for made triples.
New York’s 28 assists tied the franchise record for the seventh-most assists in a single game. Liberty had three double-figure scorers (Stewart, Jones, and Vandersloot).
Breanna Stewart finished with a franchise-high 45 points on 71.4% (15-21) shooting from the floor, including 66.7% (6-9) from deep, 12 rebounds, and three assists, highlighted by 19 first-quarter points, including four three-pointers. This was her second double-double in a row.
Her 45-point performance is the second-most by a home player in their Barclays Center debut–Liberty or Nets–and it is the most points scored in less than 31 minutes in WNBA history.
Stewart set new career highs in scoring (45), three-pointers made (6), the new Liberty all-time scoring record, and made field goals (15) today. Her 29 first-half points set a new career high for first-half scoring and were one point shy of the WNBA record for most first-half points ever.
Jonquel Jones finished with 14 points and three rebounds on 60% (6-10) shooting from the field, including 100% (2-2) from three.
Courtney Vandersloot finished with 11 points on 50 percent (5-10) shooting from the field, including 50 percent (1-2) from three, and eight assists, tying the game high.
Sabrina Ionescu finished with nine points and eight assists, eight rebounds, and two steals in a near-triple-double performance.
NaLyssa Smith led Indiana with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Aliyah Boston chipped in 15 points and four rebounds.
On Saturday, May 27, the New York Liberty will play the Connecticut Sun at 1 p.m. ET.
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