The New York Liberty spectacularly opened their title defense, crushing the Las Vegas Aces 92-78 at Barclays Center while celebrating their historic championship with a banner ceremony and ring presentation before a sellout crowd of 17,344.
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The defending WNBA champions sent a resounding message to the league on May 17, 2025, combining emotional celebration with dominant basketball in their season opener. Breanna Stewart led with 25 points on an efficient 10-of-14 shooting, while Natasha Cloud provided 22 points in her Liberty debut following an offseason trade.
Stewart and Cloud Power Championship Performance
Stewart was unstoppable from the opening tip, shooting 71.4% from the field while adding 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Her dominant interior presence and clutch shooting set the tone for a Liberty team that shot 48.6% as a team compared to Las Vegas’s 34.1%.
Cloud, making her first appearance in Liberty green after her offseason acquisition, proved to be the perfect complement. Her 22 points came on 8-of-17 shooting, and she delivered the game’s defining moment with consecutive three-point plays in the fourth quarter.
“The energy in Barclays was incredible, and we fed off that from the opening tip,” Stewart said postgame. “Tonight was about celebrating what we accomplished, but also showing we’re ready to do it again.”
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Wilson’s Heroic Effort Falls Short
Despite the lopsided final score, Las Vegas received a monster performance from A’ja Wilson, who recorded 31 points and 16 rebounds on 11-of-22 shooting. The reigning MVP kept the Aces competitive throughout, but lacked sufficient support from her supporting cast.
Jackie Young contributed 16 points on 5-of-19 shooting, but the Aces struggled with overall efficiency, shooting just 34.1% from the field. The team’s 82 field goal attempts compared to New York’s 72 showed their desperation as they fell behind early.
Fourth Quarter Surge Seals Victory
Leading 47-33 at halftime, the Liberty watched Las Vegas claw back to within 66-64 early in the fourth quarter. That’s when Cloud took over, scoring consecutive three-point plays to ignite an 8-0 run that pushed the lead to 74-64 with 5:47 remaining.
The Aces never recovered, managing to get within six points but never threatening the Liberty’s championship celebration.
Loyd Struggles in Aces Debut
New acquisition Jewell Loyd endured a forgettable debut for Las Vegas, finishing with just 5 points on 2-of-10 shooting. The former Seattle Storm star missed her first four shots before finally scoring on an elbow jumper midway through the second quarter.
Loyd’s struggles epitomized the Aces’ offensive woes, as they managed just 78 points against a Liberty defense that forced 10 turnovers while committing only 6.
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Championship Banner Ceremony Sets Emotional Tone
The pregame festivities provided an emotional backdrop as the Liberty raised its first WNBA championship banner to the Barclays Center rafters during a 15-minute ceremony. Players received their championship rings before the sellout crowd, with many veterans visibly emotional after years of pursuing this moment.
The ceremony energized both the team and the crowd, creating an atmosphere that carried throughout the dominant performance.
Statistical Dominance
The Liberty’s victory was built on superior efficiency and execution:
- Field Goal Percentage: NY 48.6% vs LV 34.1%
- Assists: NY 27 vs LV 18
- Points in Paint: NY 56 vs LV 32
- Fast Break Points: NY 12 vs LV 7
New York’s balanced attack featured five players in double figures, while Las Vegas relied heavily on Wilson’s brilliance.
The Liberty proved that championship banners and rings don’t guarantee success—but championship-level execution does.
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