Indiana Fever vs New York Liberty highlights: New York pulls away early as Indiana falters without star rookie

Indiana Fever struggle without Caitlin Clark and shoot just 36.8 percent from the field

First quarter: New York Liberty Set the Pace

• Score: New York Liberty 32, Indiana Fever 24
• The New York Liberty came out strong, shooting a remarkable 68.4% from the field and going 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Ionescu led the charge with 10 points, including a slick reverse layup in the closing seconds that pushed the lead to eight, as mentioned in the game recap from Barclays Center.

• The Fever kept things interesting, hitting 41.2% of their shots and making 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, while Mitchell contributed eight points. Unfortunately, Aliyah Boston had a rough outing, going 0-for-3 from the field but ended up with four points.

Second quarter: Indiana Fever fade

• Halftime Score: New York Liberty 53, Indiana Fever 38
• New York beat Indiana 21-14, pushing their lead to 15. The Fever struggled offensively, hitting only 32.4% and missing nine shots in a row, according to the halftime report.

• Boston, who has the best field goal percentage in the league at 57.7%, didn't score from the field (0-for-4) and had to depend on five free throws.
• By halftime, Stewart was close to a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds, and Ionescu chipped in with 12 points. The Liberty really took control in the paint (28-14) and on fast breaks (10-0).

Third quarter: New York Liberty Peak, Indiana Fever rally late

• Score: New York Liberty 74, Indiana Fever 57
• The Liberty increased their lead to 26 points, thanks to a shooting percentage of 56.9% and almost 50% from beyond the arc.
• Stewart achieved her fifth double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds by the end of the quarter, plus six assists and four blocks.

• The Fever really battled back, wrapping up with a 9-0 run, but their 34.5% shooting percentage couldn't help them catch up. Mitchell had 13 points, and Boston finally got her first field goal, finishing with seven.

Fourth quarter: New York Liberty seal the deal

• Final Score: New York Liberty 98, Indiana Fever 77
• New York held on tight, gliding to a 21-point win. The Fever's late surge fell flat, while the Liberty's depth was highlighted by Leonie Fiebich (10 points) and others stepping up.

Players who stood out the most

• Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty): 24 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 blocks, 1 steal—a masterclass in versatility.
• Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty): 15 points, 7 assists, just shy of a double-double.
• Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever): 16 points, leading Indiana’s scoring effort.
• Sophie Cunningham (Indiana Fever): 12 points off the bench.
• Aari McDonald (Indiana Fever): 10 points, providing a spark.
• Damiris Dantas (Indiana Fever): 11 points, another solid bench contribution.

Stephanie White stays optimistic but admits Clark’s repeated injuries are mentally draining