Fiebich returns with 20 points as Liberty edge Fever 109-102

The New York Liberty defeated the Indiana Fever 109-102 on Saturday night in a game that carried significant playoff seeding implications. Breanna Stewart scored 22 points, and Leonie Fiebich, in her first appearance since July 3, added 20 for the Liberty. Jonquel Jones contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds as New York improved to 23-15, while Indiana fell to 24-14.

The game was tied at 100 when Stewart made one of two free throws to put New York ahead. After an Indiana miss, Fiebich converted a basket through contact with 57.5 seconds remaining, though she missed the ensuing free throw. Caitlin Clark drove but missed a running layup, and Fiebich grabbed the rebound. Pauline Astier was then fouled with 29 seconds left and made both free throws, extending the Liberty's lead to five points. Indiana could not recover.

The Liberty led by four at halftime, and Sabrina Ionescu and Fiebich combined for 19 of New York's 31 points in the third quarter, helping their team take an 85-78 lead into the final period. Indiana rallied to tie the game on Kelsey Mitchell's 3-pointer with 1:44 remaining. Mitchell finished with a game-high 25 points, while Aliyah Boston added 22 and Clark had 21.

New York had its full lineup healthy for the first time in nearly six weeks. Fiebich returned from a foot injury, and Jones was back after missing most of the Liberty's last game against Chicago on Tuesday with a tweaked left ankle. Jones was effective early, scoring 17 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the first half as New York held a 53-49 advantage.

Before the game, rallies took place outside the arena both for and against transgender women in sports. Fever reserve Sophie Cunningham had said in an ESPN profile published last month that she was opposed to transgender girls and women competing in girls' and women's sports. Cunningham was met with a mixture of boos and cheers from the sellout crowd.

The Fever were in the middle of a stretch of five road games in eight days. Reports on their record during this stretch varied, with some showing 2-1 and others 2-2. Indiana had entered the game on a five-game winning streak but now has back-to-back losses.

Caitlin Clark missed two free throws with 24 seconds left while the Liberty held a five-point lead. WNBA writer Robin Lundberg noted on X that Clark appeared frustrated and tired in the postgame press conference, but the Fever star said, "There are no excuses. Yeah, our schedule's tough, and I think we play more back-to-backs than just about anybody in the league. But it is what it is." She said the back-to-back presented a positive opportunity to bounce back from the loss.

The Fever committed just nine turnovers but converted only 50% of their free throws, compared with 83% for the Liberty. Myisha Hines-Allen left the game in the final minute after getting injured and was still being evaluated after the game, as reported by TSN.

The Liberty led the entire second half, though a 7-0 run by Indiana, fueled by Mitchell and Clark, made it a one-point game with 4:08 left in the fourth quarter. A Sophie Cunningham steal led to Mitchell's 3-pointer that tied the score at 100. With the Liberty up by three, Ionescu made a layup that was waved off due to an offensive foul. Fiebich's defense forced Clark into a tough missed shot, and Clark then fouled Astier, who extended the lead from the free-throw line.

The game, played on national television in front of a sold-out crowd at Barclays Center, was billed beforehand as the greatest game of the weekend. The atmosphere was electric, with fans arriving early. One fan said she flew from Spain to watch Clark play, and a young fan in Fever gear held a sign saying she drove 901 miles for the game.

The Liberty next host Golden State on Thursday, while the Fever visit Chicago on Sunday to finish their back-to-back and close out the long road trip.