'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The defending WNBA champions, the New York Liberty, visited the Indiana Fever's Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday. One of the most anticipated games of the year didn’t disappoint. The Liberty won 90-88 after leading by 15 in the first half and then trailing by 12 in the second.
The nail-biter went down to the wire after stars Jonquel Jones, Aliyah Boston, Sabrina Ionescu and Caitlin Clark put up solid performances.
New York Liberty vs. Indiana Fever Game Player Stats and Box Score for May 24
New York Liberty player stats and box score
Trending
Indiana Fever player stats and box score
New York Liberty vs. Indiana Fever timeline
The teams started the contest on a heater halfway through the first quarter, with the Liberty and Fever combining to shoot 12-of-20.
The score was 14-13 in the Liberty’s favor as their frontcourt stars, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, scored six points each. Meanwhile, Aliyah Boston matched their total for Indiana. Caitlin Clark led the game in assists with four dimes in the first six minutes alone.
The Liberty came out swinging out of the timeout and took a six-point lead, but the Fever stormed back behind their defense to end the quarter down by one (30-29).
Clark had seven points and six assists, while Boston scored 10 on 5-of-5 shooting. Stewart led New York’s charge with 10 points on 3-of-3 shooting, while Jones and Sabrina Ionescu scored eight each.
The second quarter was lopsided in the Liberty's favor as they outscored Indiana 25-17 and took a 55-46 lead into halftime. The Liberty's offense was too hot to handle for the Fever as Stewart and Co. shot 64.3%, including five 3s.
Meanwhile, the Fever made just 47.4% of their shots. They were also beaten at the free-throw line, with New York making 18 trips while Indiana had 10. Boston was the lone bright spot on offense for the Fever, scoring a game-high 17 points on 8 of 9 shooting. New York had four players scoring 10 or more points.
Clark had a rough outing in the second quarter. She couldn't hit a shot and added only two assists.
The Fever came alive in the third quarter as Caitlin Clark finally broke her drought from the 3-point line at a crucial stage. The Fever won the quarter 30-13 behind excellent defense and strong performances from Kelsey Mitchell, Boston, Lexie Hull and Clark.
Boston added six points, Mitchell had seven, Hull scored eight and Clark tallied nine points in the quarter.
The Liberty bounced back in the fourth quarter, winning the frame 22-12, erasing a 12-point deficit and winning the game 90-88. Indiana’s shooting struggles returned in the clutch, and, similar to the first half, it couldn’t match New York’s physicality, which turned the game around.
Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu were the key architects of the win, as the former scored 26 points and 12 rebounds, while the latter had 23 points, five rebounds and four assists on 8 of 20 shots.
Meanwhile, Boston was the Fever’s best player, finishing with a game-high 27 points and 13 rebounds. Clark cooled off in the fourth and managed only 18 points. She nearly had an unwanted triple-double, tallying 10 assists and nine turnovers. Clark also struggled from the floor, especially from the 3-point line, going 2-for-12.
