Sabrina Ionescu was hot out of the gates for the New York Liberty and it was basically game over for the Dallas Wings.
Ionescu churned 20 points, as three other Liberty players scored in double figures in a 99-67 demolition of the Dallas Wings on Friday, September 13 (PHI time)--their fifth-straight win in WNBA action.
The @nyliberty moves to 5 straight wins as they defeat the Wings 99-67 on the road 🗽
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 13, 2024
Sabrina Ionescu led the charge with 20 PTS, 5 REB, and 6 AST. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added 17 PTS, 6 REB and 3 AST#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/290aUXmyfr
Ionescu dropped 16 points alone in the first quarter, outscoring the entire Wings’ squad who managed to put up 15 markers.
SAB IS COOKIN' TONIGHT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/W3Uq63Vt0h
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 13, 2024
The 26-year-old added five rebounds, six dimes, and drilled four triples in this latest Liberty win that saw them dominated from start to finish. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added 17 markers and six boards, while two-time MVP Breanna Stewart and veteran playmaker Courtney Vandersloot contributed 11 points each.
The first team to reach 30 wins this season, the Liberty (31-6) are now one win away from clinching the top overall seed heading to the playoffs. A victory in their next game against the current no. 2 seed Minnesota Lynx (27-9) on Monday, September 16 will guarantee that scenario.
New York started hot and built a commanding 50-32 lead at halftime.
The @nyliberty have their foot on the gas leading Dallas 50-32 at the half 🔥
Sabrina Ionescu is puttin' on a clinic with 16 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST, followed by 12 PTS and 4 REB from Breanna StewartTune in to @PrimeVideo to watch second half action 📺 pic.twitter.com/8uc3Eqv8Ks
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 13, 2024
It was pretty much the same script for Liberty, who led by as many as 32 points in their second victory against the Wings in three days.
Meanwhile, Arike Ogunbowale paced the Wings (9-28) with 11 points on the night she surpassed Deanna Nolan as the all-time scoring leader in franchise history.
Ogunbowale cemented her place in the Wings’ history books when her late-free throw in the final quarter gave her 3,972 career points. Nolan set the prior record in 2009.
Arike Ogunbowale claims the @dallaswings scoring crown 👑
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 13, 2024
Just six years in and she's already #1 all-time with 3,972 points! #WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/IJucZNzgR5
“It’s definitely special,” Ogunbowale said after the game. “It’s been a lot of great players to come through here, so to have that now is definitely special.”
Maddy Siegrist also added 11 markers for Dallas, who lost their sixth straight game.
