New York City hoops fans have been living the dream in the 2025 WNBA season, with the New York Liberty putting on a clinic. Their showdowns with the Chicago Sky have been straight fire, blending sharp shooting with relentless defense. This piece breaks down every key play and stat from their May 22 and June 10, 2025, regular-season games, giving Liberty diehards a front-row seat to their team’s dominance and Chicago’s rough road. All numbers are locked in tight, checked against ESPN and WNBA.com, to keep it real for NYC’s basketball faithful.
New York Liberty vs. Chicago Sky Timeline
These two teams have been at it since 2006, squaring off 79 times. Chicago’s got the historical edge with 42 wins to New York’s 37, averaging 79.8 points to the Liberty’s 76.1. But 2025? That’s been New York’s year. The Liberty crushed both games, part of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, showing off their depth and hustle. First up, let’s hit the May 22 game at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena before we move forward with New York Liberty vs Chicago Sky Match Player Stats over a longer period this year.
May 22, 2025: Liberty Light Up the Record Books
On May 22, the Liberty rolled into Wintrust Arena and smoked the Sky 99-74. It was a night for the history books—New York dropped a WNBA-record 19 3-pointers, fueled by slick passes that racked up 25 assists on 38 buckets.
Player Stats: May 22
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | 3PM/3PA | FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natasha Cloud | Liberty | 18 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 4/6 | 60.0% |
| Breanna Stewart | Liberty | 16 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2/4 | 50.0% |
| Sabrina Ionescu | Liberty | 15 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 3/7 | 46.2% |
| Kennedy Burke | Liberty | 17 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4/5 | 66.7% |
| Angel Reese | Sky | 12 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0/0 | 50.0% |
| Kamilla Cardoso | Sky | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 45.5% |
| Rachel Banham | Sky | 8 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2/5 | 33.3% |
Liberty Fireworks:
- Natasha Cloud was the maestro, dropping 18 points with four triples and eight dimes. Her offseason pickup, as Yahoo Sports pointed out, has been a total vibe shift for New York’s backcourt.
- Kennedy Burke came off the bench swinging, hitting 17 points on 4-of-5 from deep. She showed why the Liberty’s second unit is a problem, with every starter nailing at least one 3-pointer.
- New York was lights-out, shooting 55.2% from the field and 48.7% from three, leaving Chicago’s defense scrambling.
Sky Fumbles:
- Angel Reese scrapped for a double-double, posting 12 points and 10 boards, but New York’s pressure kept her in check. Chicago’s 22 turnovers fed the Liberty 28 points.
- The Sky shot a rough 40.6% from the field and 29.4% from three. Missing Courtney Vandersloot, out with a torn ACL, their offense was a mess.
How It Went Down
New York came out swinging, turning Chicago’s sloppy plays into a 28-15 lead after one. The second quarter was a 3-point party, with Cloud and Burke splashing six from downtown. By halftime, it was 54-36. The third quarter blew the doors off, with the Liberty pushing the lead to 31, letting coach Sandy Brondello give her starters a breather in the fourth. Chicago was toast, and New York walked away with a 25-point dub.
June 10, 2025: Liberty Keep It Perfect
On June 10 at Barclays Center, the Liberty put another beating on the Sky, 85-66, moving to 9-0 and tying a WNBA record for best season start. This Commissioner’s Cup game was all New York, all night.
Player Stats: June 10
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | 3PM/3PA | FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabrina Ionescu | Liberty | 23 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 4/8 | 52.9% |
| Breanna Stewart | Liberty | 18 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 2/5 | 47.1% |
| Kennedy Burke | Liberty | 15 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3/4 | 62.5% |
| Nyara Sabally | Liberty | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 66.7% |
| Angel Reese | Sky | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0/0 | 44.4% |
| Kamilla Cardoso | Sky | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 40.0% |
| Ariel Atkins | Sky | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1/4 | 30.0% |
Liberty Fireworks:
- Sabrina Ionescu was a one-woman show, dropping 23 points, including 10 in the first, as Sportskeeda reported. Her seven assists and four triples showed she’s a problem.
- Breanna Stewart brought 18 points, seven boards, and five assists, owning both sides of the court.
- The Liberty forced 22 turnovers, turning them into 24 points, while locking Chicago down to 38.9% shooting.
Sky Fumbles:
- Nobody on Chicago hit double digits. Angel Reese (10 points, eight rebounds) and Kamilla Cardoso (eight points, seven rebounds) held their own inside but couldn’t keep up with New York’s shooters.
- The Sky’s starting five—Reese, Cardoso, Ariel Atkins, Rebecca Allen, and Rachel Banham—looked lost, giving up 22 turnovers against 28 made shots.
How It Went Down
New York kicked things off with a 12-0 run, leading 26-15 after the first. Ionescu and Stewart had the crowd buzzing, pushing a 52-32 lead by halftime. A 17-0 run spanning the third and fourth, finished with a Burke 3-pointer, made it 76-42. The Liberty’s defense was a brick wall, holding Chicago to 15 points in the third and cruising to a 19-point win.
Numbers Don’t Lie
Both games showed New York’s got Chicago’s number. The Liberty averaged 92 points, hitting 49.6% of their shots and 46.2% from three, while forcing 22 turnovers a game. Chicago scraped by with 70 points, shooting 39.8% from the field and a weak 29.4% from deep.
Team Stats Comparison
| Statistic | Liberty (May 22) | Sky (May 22) | Liberty (June 10) | Sky (June 10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 99 | 74 | 85 | 66 |
| Field Goal % | 55.2% | 40.6% | 46.4% | 38.9% |
| 3-Point % | 48.7% | 29.4% | 43.5% | 25.0% |
| Assists | 25 | 16 | 22 | 14 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 22 | 10 | 22 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 31 | 36 | 30 |
Who Stole the Show
- Sabrina Ionescu: Averaging 19 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.5 triples, she carved up Chicago like a pro.
- Breanna Stewart: With 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists a game, she was a force on both ends.
- Natasha Cloud: Her 18-point, eight-assist night on May 22 proved she’s a big-time playmaker.
- Kennedy Burke: Averaging 16 points on 65.2% shooting, her bench energy flipped games.
Chicago’s Rough Patch
Without Vandersloot, Chicago’s offense was a trainwreck, coughing up 44 turnovers total. Angel Reese averaged 11 points and nine boards, grinding hard but with no backup. Kamilla Cardoso is still figuring things out, and the Sky’s outside shooting was nonexistent, with just 10 3-pointers across both games.
Where the Liberty Stand
These blowouts have New York sitting pretty atop the WNBA standings. Their 9-0 start in June is a franchise first, and with Cloud’s spark and Brondello’s game plan, Barclays Center is rocking like never before.
Deep Bench, Big Wins
Guys like Nyara Sabally, who stepped up big when Jonquel Jones sat on June 10, and Leonie Fiebich, a pest on defense, show why New York’s roster is stacked. Brondello’s got options, and that’s something Chicago just doesn’t have.
