(Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)
Jonquel Jones posted 22 points and 17 rebounds while leading the host New York Liberty to a 97-82 win over the Toronto Tempo on Wednesday.
Tempo rookie Kiki Rice scored nine points but left the game with 1:33 remaining due to an injury to her left leg.
New York's Breanna Stewart scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half and grabbed nine rebounds. Marine Johannes added 15 points, making 3 of 6 3-point attempts, and Leonie Fiebich had 14 points.
The Liberty (6-4) have won three consecutive games, and they are now 3-3 on their seven-game homestead that will end on Saturday against the Indiana Fever.
Toronto (5-5) had its two-game win streak snapped despite getting 17 points each from Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes.
The game featured a battle between the Sabally sisters, and it also marked the return of Sandy Brondello, who coached New York to its only WNBA title in 2024. She is now the coach of the expansion Toronto club.
As for the sister act, Satou Sabally scored 12 points for New York while Nyara Sabally put up 11 for Toronto.
The contest was the opening WNBA Commissioner's Cup game for both teams.
New York was again without All-Star point guard Sabrina Ionescu, who has missed nine of the Liberty's 10 games due to foot and back injuries.
Toronto led 20-17 after a first quarter during which the Tempo shot 53.3% from the floor including 2-for-4 from 3-point range. New York stayed close with Jones scoring 12 points, going 2-for-2 from long distance and also adding three inside baskets.
Jones had 17 points and 12 rebounds at halftime, helping put New York on top 40-34. She was the game's only double-figure scorer in the first half.
The difference in the first half was the 3-point shooting: 9-for-21 for New York but just 2-for-9 for Toronto.
New York stretched its lead to 70-58 after three quarters. In that period, Mabrey kept Toronto in the game with 15 points, sinking a pair of 3-pointers. New York got nine points from Stewart, seven from Johannes and six from Satou Sabally.
The Liberty were never seriously threatened in the fourth quarter, and they finished the game shooting 14 of 32 (43.8%) from beyond the arc.
The Tempo made 6 of 19 (31.6%) from deep.
--Field Level Media
