How the Liberty beat the Aces for the Commissioner’s Cup titleESPN staffJun 30, 2026, 10:40 PM ETMultiple Authors
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New York has another title.
The New York Liberty beat the Las Vegas Aces 93-85 on Tuesday to win the WNBA’s 2026 Commissioner’s Cup title. Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart combined for 51 points. Stewart, who also had 11 rebounds, was named the game’s MVP.
Guard Jackie Young scored a game-high 31 points for Las Vegas, which played without injured star A’ja Wilson.
The Liberty led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter before the Aces took a brief lead early in the fourth quarter. Here’s how New York held on for the win and more analysis from the game.
Relive Tuesday’s action
How was the game won?
It really just came down to the Liberty having three big scorers Tuesday to the Aces’ two. Not having Wilson was just too much an absence for Las Vegas, even with guards Young and Chennedy Carter (18 points) playing so well. The Liberty also had two strong games by guards, with Ionescu’s huge outing and rookie Pauline Astier scoring 15 points. But New York also had a key night from forward Stewart, who made the most of not having to contend with Wilson inside.
As was the case in the Liberty’s 87-76 win over Las Vegas on June 23, New York won the battle of the free throw line decisively. The Liberty were 24-of-29 from the line to the Aces’ 11-of-14.
The fact the Aces also made 6 of 26 3-point attempts (23%) and were outrebounded 42-30 — yet were still within striking distance with under a minute left — is something Las Vegas can feel good about. This game could have been a blowout without Wilson, but the Liberty had to battle until the end to secure the Cup. — Michael Voepel
Ionescu finally looked like herself again
Two days ago, Ionescu stated she was trying to balance giving herself grace as she returned from injury after missing the first two weeks of the season, with making sure she gets better and more comfortable in every outing.
On Tuesday, she finally looked like the player we’re used to seeing more than she had in any of the other eight games she has played this season. Ionescu finished with a season-high 26 points and five made 3-pointers. All five of her assists came in the second half.
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Before the game, Liberty coach Chris DeMarco told reporters that despite Ionescu’s struggles over the last several games, he and the team still believed in her as one of the best players in the league. Ionescu is averaging career lows in points (9.5 PPG, vs. 18.2 in 2025) and field goal percentage (34.6%, vs. 40.1% in 2025).
But she had multiple back-breaking shots down the stretch Tuesday, including a dagger in the final 30 seconds. After Las Vegas’ Young missed a layup, Ionescu brought the ball down court. With 17.7 seconds left and the Liberty up five, Ionescu took a pass from Stewart and banked in the 3-pointer that sealed the win for the Liberty.
After the game, DeMarco doubled down: “She proved it,” he stated during the trophy presentation. “She’s a big-time player, a clutch player. She got it done.” — Kendra Andrews
Who else stepped up for the Liberty?
The headlines will focus on the epic return of Ionescu and the play of Stewart, but when the game was on the line, the Liberty “Others” stepped up in a major way.
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The Liberty had watched a 17-point lead evaporate as the Aces took their first lead of the game, 71-69, when Ionescu and Stewart checked back with 7:12 remaining in the game. New York immediately went on a 12-0 run, but it wasn’t just that duo who went to work.
Astier knocked down a triple to take back the lead. Leonie Fiebich hit a 7-footer through contact from Chelsea Gray, drawing her fifth foul, to give the Liberty a 77-71 lead. Then Astier sprinted out for a fastbreak layup off a pinpoint pass from Ionescu to push the lead to 79-71.
Astier finished with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists while Fiebich chipped in 2 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists. These other two starters had huge moments when the game was on the line. — Kareem Copeland
Chennedy Carter can be the Aces’ difference-maker
Carter returned to the Aces’ lineup Sunday after missing five games due to illness, and the impact she makes is obvious. Carter had 11 points in Las Vegas’ 107-99 win over Chicago, and then made 7 of 14 shots from the field and 4 of 5 free throws for her 18 points Tuesday.
Carter, in her first season with the Aces, has appeared in 12 games and is shooting 59.5% from the field. She also adds another energetic and quick defender on the perimeter. If Carter can continue to play as she has, it’s going to be important to the Aces for the rest of this season to have her in the lineup. — Voepel
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