Basketball is weird because one night you're fighting for your life and the next, everything just clicks like magic. That’s basically the vibe of the liberty vs wings last game on September 12, 2024. It wasn't just a win for New York; it was a statement. The Liberty rolled into Arlington and absolutely dismantled the Dallas Wings 99-67.
Honestly, it felt over by halftime.
If you weren't watching, the box score tells a story of total dominance. Sabrina Ionescu was doing Sabrina Ionescu things, putting up 20 points and dishing out 6 assists. She looked completely in control, like she was playing a different speed than everyone else on the court. It’s funny how people forget that Dallas actually kept it somewhat interesting for a minute there, but New York’s depth is just a different beast.
Breaking Down the Liberty vs Wings Last Game
The first quarter set the tone. New York jumped out to a 25-15 lead and they never looked back. You’ve got to feel for Dallas sometimes because when the Liberty are hitting their threes—they went 12-of-30 from deep—there isn't much any defense can do.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton was another huge factor. She chipped in 17 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. It’s those secondary scoring options that make the Liberty so scary. You focus on Ionescu or Breanna Stewart, and suddenly Laney-Hamilton is cutting to the rim or hitting a corner three.
✨ Don't miss: Liechtenstein National Football Team: Why Their Struggles are Different Than You Think
Why the Scoring Gap Was So Massive
Dallas struggled. Hard.
They shot only 36.6% from the field. In the WNBA, if you aren't hitting at least 40-45%, you're going to get run out of the building by a top-tier team. Satou Sabally and Arike Ogunbowale are stars, sure, but the support just wasn't there this time around. Maddy Siegrist led the Wings with 11 points, which, let's be real, isn't going to cut it when the opponent is knocking on the door of 100 points.
The discrepancy in the "Points Off Turnovers" category was a total nightmare for Dallas. New York turned 15 Wings turnovers into 20 points. That's essentially free money in basketball terms. You can’t give a championship-caliber team extra possessions and expect to survive the night.
The Statistical Story of the Night
Sometimes the stats lie, but not here.
🔗 Read more: Cómo entender la tabla de Copa Oro y por qué los puntos no siempre cuentan la historia completa
- New York's Bench: They outscored Dallas's bench 32-23.
- Fast Break Points: The Liberty won this 30-10.
- Biggest Lead: New York led by as much as 32 points.
It was a clinical performance. Coach Sandy Brondello had her squad playing with a level of discipline that made the Wings look scattered. Dallas seemed to be playing "hero ball" at times, trying to force shots that weren't there, while the Liberty just kept moving the rock until they found the open person.
Misconceptions About the Matchup
A lot of people thought this would be a "trap game" for New York. They were coming off a hot streak and playing on the road against a Dallas team that can be dangerous if Ogunbowale gets hot. But the Liberty didn't play like a team looking ahead to the playoffs. They played like a team that wanted to crush any hope the Wings had early.
Actually, the most surprising thing wasn't the score—it was the efficiency. New York had 26 assists on 33 made field goals. That’s elite-level ball movement. They weren't just winning on talent; they were winning on chemistry.
What This Game Taught Us for the Future
If you're looking for actionable insights from the liberty vs wings last game, it’s all about the gap between the "Haves" and the "Have-Nots" in the league right now.
💡 You might also like: Ohio State Football All White Uniforms: Why the Icy Look Always Sparks a Debate
To beat the Liberty, you have to do three things:
- Limit their transition points (Dallas failed here).
- Close out on their shooters (Dallas failed here).
- Win the rebounding battle (New York won 40-33).
Dallas is a young team with a ton of potential—they even snagged the top pick in the 2026 draft lottery—but this specific game showed they still have a mountain to climb to reach the Liberty's level. For New York, this was the perfect tune-up. It proved that even when they aren't relying solely on Breanna Stewart (who "only" had 11 points in this one), they can still blow the doors off a professional team.
Keep an eye on the defensive rotations. That’s where the game was won. New York’s ability to switch on screens and stay in front of Dallas’s guards made every possession a struggle for the Wings. If you're a coach or a player watching the tape, the Liberty’s defensive communication is the gold standard.
Moving forward, the focus shifts to how Dallas rebuilds around their core. For the Liberty, it’s about maintaining this standard. They didn't just win a game in September; they sent a message to the rest of the league that they were ready for the big stage.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Review the defensive tape of the second quarter to see how the Liberty's 17-4 run started.
- Track Arike Ogunbowale’s shooting percentages against top-4 teams to see if this was an outlier or a trend.
- Monitor the 2026 WNBA Draft developments, as Dallas’s performance in games like this directly influenced their lottery positioning.