'We Just Tried to Stay Together': Sabrina Ionescu Reveals How Liberty Made Shocking Comeback vs. Fever

After trailing by as many as 12 in the fourth quarter, New York mounted a 14-2 run to reclaim the lead, fueled by back-to-back threes from Jones and timely plays from Breanna Stewart (16 points) and Natasha Cloud (16 points). But the team’s composure under pressure stood out most postgame.

“We just tried to stay together,” said Ionescu. “We knew they were going to go on a run, especially at home, but we kept our composure and executed when it mattered.”

The Liberty’s ability to respond came after a dominant third quarter from Indiana, which outscored New York 30-13 to swing momentum. Caitlin Clark’s four-point play and 34-foot buzzer-beater gave the Fever an eight-point lead heading into the fourth, energizing the crowd of 17,247.

“It was a grind,” said Jones, who shot 9-of-15 from the floor and hit two clutch three-pointers to bring New York back. “Indiana played really well, but we trusted each other and got the stops when we needed them. I just tried to be aggressive and help my team any way I could.”

Sandy Brondello Praises New York Liberty’s Response

Saturday’s game had the feel of a playoff atmosphere — physical, fast-paced, and full of momentum shifts. Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello praised her team’s poise and late-game defense after Indiana’s final possession came up empty.

“That’s a really good team over there,” Brondello said. “I’m proud of how we responded, especially after they made their run. We stayed focused, executed our sets, and made some big defensive plays at the end.”

Those defensive plays included a final stand by Cloud, who knocked the ball away from Clark as she tried to create space for a last-second shot. Fever head coach Stephanie White later called the officiating “egregious,” citing a minus-31 free throw disparity in recent games. But the Liberty remained unfazed by the postgame noise, emphasizing execution over excuses.

“It was a physical game,” Ionescu said. “You have to expect that, especially on the road. We made the plays we needed to down the stretch.”

What’s Next for New York Liberty and Indiana Fever?

New York will look to remain undefeated as it returns home to face the expansion Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday and Thursday. Indiana heads to Washington for a Wednesday night showdown with the Mystics.