Sabrina Ionescu scored 28 points to lead the New York Liberty to an 87-78 victory over the Las Vegas Aces, who lost star A'ja Wilson to a right wrist injury in the first half.
Wilson went down hard halfway through the second quarter and spent several minutes on the ground surrounded by her teammates. She sustained an injury to her right wrist and did not return to the game, reappearing on the bench in the third quarter with the wrist wrapped.
With the game tied at 72, New York (13-6) scored the next eight points, led by Ionescu, who finished with eight assists and eight rebounds. Las Vegas' last basket of the game came with 5:41 left. New York hit its free throws down the stretch to close out the win.
The Liberty held on to a thin lead for much of the first half, led by Ionescu's 10 points and recently-returned Leonie Fiebich with eight points in the half. Their lead grew to nine at its widest point, but the Aces (9-10) stayed close and a last-minute layup from Jackie Young gave them the 42-40 lead heading into halftime.
Young led scoring for Las Vegas with 19 points, followed by NaLyssa Smith and Chelsea Gray with 11.
Austin’s late free throws lift Mystics
Shakira Austin scored 15 points, including two free throws with 2.8 seconds left, and the Washington Mystics beat the Chicago Sky 81-79 on the campus of George Mason University.
Austin missed two free throws with 31.8 seconds left, but Washington secured the offensive rebound, and she made a driving layup for a 79-77 lead.
After Angel Reese sank two free throws with 14.9 seconds remaining to tie it at 79, Austin was fouled on a drive to the basket and converted both for the lead. Rachel Banham was off the mark on a half-court shot at the buzzer.
Sonia Citron scored eight of her 13 points in the fourth quarter for Washington (9-10). Kiki Iriafen had 11 points and 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double this season, tying Chamique Holdsclaw’s Mystics rookie record.
