The New York Liberty already set a record for their best start in team history, and now the defending champions are inching closer to a league record.
The Liberty attempt to become the fourth team in WNBA history to open a season with at least 10 straight wins Saturday afternoon in a Commissioner’s Cup game at Indianapolis against the Indiana Fever, who are getting star Caitlin Clark back after a five-game injury absence.
New York (9-0) broke the franchise record for the best start Tuesday when it scored the first 12 points of an 85-66 home win over the Chicago Sky.
The Liberty became the ninth team to open with at least nine straight wins and are attempting to join the 2012 Minnesota Lynx (10-0), 2016 Los Angeles Sparks (11-0) and 2016 Lynx (13-0) as teams to begin a season with double-digit wins before their first loss.
New York earned its sixth double-digit victory this season when Sabrina Ionescu scored 23 points. Ionescu led the team in scoring for the third time in four games and shot 9 of 14 after missing 14 of 17 shots in an eight-point win at Washington on June 5.
The Liberty played without Jonquel Jones (ankle sprain), while Nyara Sabally started in the frontcourt alongside Breanna Stewart.
“We’ve got new standards and expectations of ourselves,” New York coach Sandy Brondello said. “It’s coming to work every day and making sure we’re process based. We want to (win the championship) again. We know it’s very hard. There are still areas that we’ve got to get better at, but it’s a credit to the players, just how focused they are.”
The Fever (4-5) were 2-3 while Clark was out with a quad injury. Indiana absorbed its most lopsided loss so far when they shot a season-worst 36.2 percent in a 77-58 loss at Atlanta on Tuesday.
Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever in scoring in the two wins without Clark but was held to 11 points on 5-of-16 shooting against the Dream.
The Fever could be getting Sophie Cunningham back from an ankle injury sustained May 30. Cunningham has missed five games, and the guard returned to practice this week.
“I’m feeling really good,” Cunningham said. “I’m just trying to get clearance for Saturday, and so far so good.”
New York won the first meeting 90-88 on May 24 in Indianapolis behind 26 points from Jonquel Jones and 23 from Ionescu. Aliyah Boston led the Fever with 27 points and Clark added 18 points and 10 assists.
–Field Level Media
