Fri Jun 20 00:20:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Sabrina Ionescu’s back-to-back 34-point performances fueled a remarkable comeback for the New York Liberty against the Atlanta Dream. Trailing by 17 points in the second half, the Liberty rallied behind Ionescu and Breanna Stewart (23 points) to secure an 86-81 victory. Despite the win, the Liberty were eliminated from Commissioner’s Cup contention as Indiana held the tiebreaker. Te-Hina Paopao led the Dream with 16 points, all in the first half. The Liberty’s strong finish, fueled by clutch plays from Stewart and key offensive rebounds, sealed the win.
**News Article:**
**Liberty Storm Back, Ionescu Scores 34, but Commissioner’s Cup Hopes Dashed**
NEW YORK — Sabrina Ionescu’s torrid scoring streak continued Tuesday night as she poured in 34 points for the second consecutive game, leading the New York Liberty to a thrilling 86-81 victory over the Atlanta Dream. The Liberty rallied from a daunting 17-point deficit in the second half to secure the win.
Breanna Stewart contributed 23 points to the Liberty’s comeback effort. Jonquel Jones added 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Rookie Te-Hina Paopao led the Dream with 16 points, all scored in the first half, as Atlanta raced to a commanding lead that peaked midway through the third quarter.
The Liberty, however, refused to go down without a fight. Led by Ionescu’s 15 points and Stewart’s 11 in the second half, they chipped away at the Dream’s advantage. Natasha Cloud’s three-point play tied the game late. With the score tied, Stewart scored a go-ahead layup and added another on the next possession.
Despite the impressive victory, the Liberty (10-1) were eliminated from contention for the Commissioner’s Cup final. The Indiana Fever, who defeated the Connecticut Sun 88-71, earned the tiebreaker over New York.
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