Liberty blow 19-point lead in momentum-halting loss to Sky
NY Liberty’s momentum came to a sudden halt on Sunday afternoon as the Chicago Sky beat them 86-82 at Barclays Center. Liberty were on a four-game winning streak, and with a 19-point lead in the second half, it looked like they would make it five. However, the Sky refused to back down and put an end to the Liberty’s winning ways. Kahleah Copper led the Sky’s comeback with 27 points, while Courtney Williams added 12, including 10 in the fourth quarter. Breanna Stewart had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Liberty. The loss was Liberty’s first since the season opener.
Liberty coach Sandy Brondello expressed her disappointment after the game and said, “Hopefully this is a wake-up call. Some players need to wake up a little bit more. We went away from what worked for us. Our shot profile was terrible. We don’t find ways to get [Stewart] touches. We just didn’t play tough enough. Disappointing, but the film won’t lie. So we’ve got to use it as a learning opportunity now.”
Chicago’s Courtney Williams drew an offensive foul on Breanna Stewart, which was challenged by the Liberty but was denied, as Williams bowed to the crowd, drawing loud boos. Williams said, “Got to have fun with it. They were booing me. Going to turn y’all up.” The Sky pulled ahead for the first time in the game on Williams’ jumper with 4:24 left in the third quarter.
It was the second consecutive year that the Sky pulled off a monumental comeback. Last season, they rallied from 28 points down to beat the Aces, setting a WNBA record.
FAQs
How many games had the NY Liberty won in a row before their loss to the Chicago Sky?
They had won four games in a row before their loss to the Sky on Sunday afternoon.
Who led the Sky’s comeback?
Kahleah Copper led the Sky’s comeback with 27 points, while Courtney Williams added 12, including 10 in the fourth quarter.
Who is the coach of the NY Liberty, and what did she say after the game?
Sandy Brondello is the coach of the NY Liberty. After the game, she expressed her disappointment and said, “Hopefully this is a wake-up call. Some players need to wake up a little bit more. We went away from what worked for us. Our shot profile was terrible. We don’t find ways to get [Stewart] touches. We just didn’t play tough enough. Disappointing, but the film won’t lie. So we’ve got to use it as a learning opportunity now.”
Did the Sky beat the Liberty last year in a similar manner?
Yes, it was the second consecutive year that the Sky pulled off a monumental comeback. Last season, they rallied from 28 points down to beat the Aces, setting a WNBA record.

Sky seals momentum-shifting win as Liberty fizzle after leading by 19 points.
The New York Liberty’s four-game winning streak came to an end on Sunday as they suffered an 86-82 loss to the Chicago Sky at Barclays Center. The Liberty had a comfortable 19-point lead in the second half, but it all slipped away as the Sky mounted a resilient comeback to secure the win. Kahleah Copper led the way for the Sky, scoring 27 points, while Courtney Williams added 12, including 10 in the final minutes of the game. The Liberty’s Breanna Stewart had an impressive performance with 20 points and 11 rebounds, but it was not enough to save the game.
“We went away from what worked for us,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. “Our shot profile was terrible. We don’t find ways to get [Stewart] touches. We just didn’t play tough enough. Disappointing, but the film won’t lie. So we’ve got to use it as a learning opportunity now.”
The Sky’s comeback was sparked by Williams’ jumper with 4:24 left in the third quarter, which put them ahead for the first time. A few seconds later, Williams drew an offensive foul on Stewart, which then led to a challenge by New York, but the challenge was denied, and Williams playfully bowed to the crowd, drawing loud boos. “Got to have fun with it,” Williams said smiling. “They were booing me. Going to turn y’all up.”
Stewart scored the next six points for the Liberty, tying the game at 76 with just over two minutes left. Williams then answered back with a 3-pointer with 1:42 left. Courtney Vandersloot’s layup with 59 seconds left got the Liberty within two points. Williams was then fouled and hit the first of two free throws to make it a three-point game. After a timeout, Sabrina Ionescu was charged with an offensive foul on the inbounds with 27 seconds left. Chicago then hit four free throws in the final 17 seconds to seal the win.
It was the second consecutive year that Chicago pulled off a monumental comeback. Last season, the Sky rallied from 28 points down to beat the Aces, setting a WNBA record.