Liberty stars going 30-for-30

Ionescu and Stewart pacing New York attack

June 20, 2025 John Torenli, Sports Editor

Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart are chasing team records and a second straight WNBA title together in Downtown Brooklyn. AP Photo by Adam Hunger

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Sabrina Ionescu believes her spot atop the Liberty’s all-time list of players who have registered 30-plus point games is a passing fancy.

Especially with two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player and Olympic teammate Breanna Stewart hot on her heels.

“I think we’re going to be going back and forth for a long while,” said Ionescu after her second straight 34-point performance in Tuesday’s win over visiting Atlanta.

Ionescu’s latest scoring gem pushed her to 15 30-plus point games while Stewart remained at 14.

Only Diana Taurasi (2006), Liz Cambage (2018) and Kahleah Copper (2024) have put up 34 in consecutive games.

However, with 33 games left in their “Run it Back” 2025 campaign, Ionescu, Stewart and the rest of the defending WNBA champions are much more focused on winning a second straight title than chasing franchise records.

The dynamic duo captured Olympic gold in Paris last summer before returning to Downtown Brooklyn and grabbing the team’s first-ever WNBA crown with a thrilling Game 5 overtime home win over Minnesota.

This year, Ionescu is putting up a team-high 20.8 points per game and is coming off the second set of back-to-back 30-plus point efforts in franchise history, and first since Stewart set the standard last Aug. 28-30.

While Stewart came to Brooklyn well-established with two WNBA titles in Seattle and a pair of MVPs, Ionescu, the league’s first overall pick in 2020, was just cutting her teeth when they got paired together here in 2023.

“I think she’s continued to develop the way she scores,” said Stewart, who is averaging 19.8 points per contest, but has yet to crack 30 this year.

“As a rookie, she used to be a shooter … but now she gives people different looks.”

The Liberty’s dream duo of Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart captured Olympic gold with Team USA during last summer’s Olympics in Paris. AP Photo by Alastair Grant

Stewart, who averaged a team-best 23.0 points in 2023, including a league-record five 40-plus point efforts, has always been able to beat opponents from any place on the hardwood.

With New York (10-1) down 17 points late in the third quarter Tuesday at Barclays Center, the tandem combined for 26 points down the stretch, spearheading a furious fourth-quarter comeback and an 86-81 win.

Stewart broke a 79-79 deadlock in the final two minutes by making a driving layup, a nifty 5-footer and another hoop to put New York in front to stay.

“This is what she does. She hits big shot after big shot,” Ionescu said of Stewart.

Ionescu tacked on three free throws down the stretch to settle matters.

“She’s money,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello added of Ionescu.

Thanks to the efforts of their top-two scorers, the Liberty lead the league in offensive rating (110.8) and net rating (18.5) while putting up a WNBA-best 89.8 points per game, almost half of which come from Ionescu and Stewart.

“I’m the lucky one. I get to coach greatness because that’s what they are. The best of the best,” Brondello gushed.

The Liberty lost for the first time this season at Barclays Center on Thursday, falling to the Phoenix Mercury 89-81. Phoenix has now won a season-high four in a row.

This was the first time the two teams met since last year, when New York took two of three from the Mercury, including an 84-70 triumph in Phoenix on Aug. 26.

GIVE ME LIBERTY: Former Liberty guard Sami Whitcomb was listed as out for Phoenix on Thursday. New York will continue to be without forward Leonie Fiebich, who had her contract suspended due to an international commitment with the German national team, which is competing in EuroBasket. … Liberty point guard Natasha Cloud spent last season with the Mercury after eight seasons in Washington. Cloud averaged 11.5 points in 38 starts for Phoenix and helped them reach the playoffs, where they got swept by Minnesota in the first round. … After hosting the Sun, the Liberty will begin a four-game road trip in Seattle on Sunday.