Sometimes revenge is a dish best served cold—and the New York Liberty delivered it with style. After a heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss to the Portland Fire just two days earlier, the Liberty came roaring back with a decisive 100-82 victory on Thursday night.
Breanna Stewart led the charge with 22 points, but the real story was the bench. Alex Fowler, who signed a developmental contract earlier that day, provided an unexpected spark with 12 points. For context, the Liberty's bench had managed just 11 points total in Tuesday's loss—so this was a complete 180. Rebekah Gardner added 14 points, and Julie Vanloo knocked down three 3-pointers for nine points. All told, the Liberty reserves poured in 41 points and drained eight 3-pointers, a massive upgrade that flipped the script.
Head coach Sandy Brondello had to get creative with Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally sidelined for a fourth straight game. Enter Pauline Astier, the free-agent rookie from France, who stepped into Ionescu's role and delivered 20 points. Astier has now scored 67 points in four games for New York (3-1), proving she's more than just a fill-in.
The Liberty started slow, shooting just 5-of-16 in the first quarter, but found their rhythm. They finished 34-of-67 (51%) from the field, drilled 15 three-pointers, and dished out 32 assists—including a career-high 11 from Marine Johannes. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton's layup gave New York a slim 39-37 halftime lead after a back-and-forth first half with nine lead changes. Then came the third quarter: the Liberty made 11 of 14 shots, outscoring the Fire 31-16 to blow the game open. The lead swelled to 22 points in the fourth, and the Fire never recovered.
For Portland (1-2), Megan Gustafson was efficient with 14 points in just 14 minutes, and Haley Jones added 10. The Fire bench contributed 39 points, but starters like Nyadiew Puoch (13 points), Bridget Carleton (11), and Emily Engstler (11) couldn't keep pace. The expansion team, which earned its first-ever win on Tuesday, now faces a tough test against Connecticut on Monday to close out its season-opening homestand.
New York gets a well-deserved week off before hosting Golden State next Thursday. If this game is any indication, the Liberty's depth and resilience could make them a force to be reckoned with this season.