Breanna Stewart scored 22 points and Leonie Fiebich made her season debut, helping the New York Liberty edge the Indiana Fever 109-102 Saturday night. The Liberty improved to 23-15 with the victory.
With the game tied at 100, Stewart made a free throw to give New York a one-point lead. After Indiana missed a shot, Fiebich scored through contact with 57.5 seconds remaining but missed the free throw. Caitlin Clark had a chance to respond but missed a driving layup, and Fiebich grabbed the rebound. Astier then drew a foul and made both free throws to push the Liberty’s lead to five.
The game was significant for playoff positioning, with both teams contending from third to eighth place in the standings. The Liberty led by four at halftime, and Sabrina Ionescu and Fiebich combined for 19 points in the third quarter to extend the lead to 85-78 entering the final period. Indiana rallied to tie the game on Kelsey Mitchell’s 3-pointer with 1:44 remaining. Mitchell finished with 25 points, while Aliyah Boston added 22 and Clark scored 21.
It was the first game in nearly six weeks for Fiebich, who had been sidelined with a foot injury. Jones also returned after missing most of the Liberty’s previous game due to an ankle injury. The game was also notable for outside rallies concerning transgender athletes, with Indiana fans expressing varying opinions on the topic.
The Fever are in the middle of a tough stretch, playing five road games in eight days and going 2-2 so far. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
