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Jun 18, 20261
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Ionescu's Late Layup Lifts Liberty Past Sky 96-95 in Commissioner's Cup
Sabrina Ionescu hit the winning layup with 10 seconds remaining and Jonquel Jones scored 19 points as the New York Liberty defeated the Chicago Sky 96-95 in Commissioner's Cup play on Wednesday. The victory extended Liberty's winning streak to eight games and clinched a perfect record against East Conference opponents in the competition.
Quick Facts
Who
Sabrina Ionescu
What
Ionescu hit winning layup with 10 seconds remaining
When
Wednesday night
Where
Chicago
- Ionescu hit winning layup with 10 seconds remaining
- Liberty defeated Sky in Commissioner's Cup play
- Liberty extended winning streak to eight games
- Liberty clinched perfect Commissioner's Cup record versus the East
- Taylor scored 24 points in first career start
Sabrina Ionescu delivered the game-winning layup with 10 seconds remaining as the New York Liberty defeated the Chicago Sky 96-95 on Wednesday night in Commissioner's Cup play. Ionescu re-entered the game with 15.6 seconds left on the clock, caught the inbound pass, drove to the basket and finished with her left hand to seal the Liberty's eighth consecutive victory.
Jonquel Jones led the Liberty with 19 points and eight rebounds, shooting 6 for 9 from the field. Breanna Stewart and Satou Sabally each contributed 17 points, while Rebekah Gardner added 10 points off the bench. Ionescu, who delivered the decisive bucket, finished with 10 points overall. The victory marked the Liberty's perfect Commissioner's Cup record against East Conference opponents.
For the Sky, rookie Sydney Taylor made an impressive debut, scoring 24 points in her first career start and connecting on 57 percent of three-point attempts. Fellow rookie Gabriela Jaquez added a season-high 22 points. The Sky's strong rookie performance was offset by the Liberty's clutch execution down the stretch.
The Liberty will host the Washington Mystics on Friday, while the Sky travel to face the Dallas Wings on Saturday.
Topics
Why This Matters
This late-game heroics underscore the Liberty's championship-caliber execution and mental toughness in close moments—critical qualities for playoff success. Ionescu's clutch finish and the team's perfect Commissioner's Cup divisional record demonstrate their competitive edge in high-pressure situations, while the rookies' strong performances for Chicago signal an emerging competitive force in the league.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireLiberty defeated Sky 96-95 in Commissioner's Cup play
Jun 20, 2026
WireLiberty to host Washington Mystics
Jun 21, 2026
WireSky to visit Dallas Wings