The Indiana Fever are expected to compete for a WNBA championship in 2025. And on Saturday, they gave the New York Liberty all they could handle.
When you’re at the top of the mountain, you’re going to get teams’ best effort every single night. You’re the standard and everyone’s trying to get to where you are and surpass you along the way. It makes for a challenge every night, but when you’re the champions, you have to be ready for all challengers. It’s a tough part of the gig, but that’s the way it goes.
The New York Liberty built a 15-point lead in the second quarter on Saturday afternoon and looked to be on the way to an early statement victory against the Indiana Fever. However, they started to let go of the rope and the Fever gradually found their way back into it.
Caitlin Clark in particular struggled early against the Liberty defense as she had nine turnovers in the first three quarters. However, you can’t keep superstars down for too long and she gradually found her rhythm and eventually had a sold out Gainbridge Fieldhouse on its feet with another magical moment
Caitlin Clark beats the Q3 buzzer with the triple from way downtown pic.twitter.com/lhJ1iu45UI
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 24, 2025
Going into the fourth, the Liberty found themselves down 10 and completely out of sorts. The team stopped finding their way into the paint, the ball stopped moving, and the crowd was lifting the Fever higher and higher. Fortunately for the Liberty, their championship pedigree returned at the right time.
It started with Jonquel Jones. When JJ is dialed in, the Liberty go from super to unbeatable. The Liberty never lose when she collects a double-double, and today she scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in 36 minutes. However, she started off slowly on the defensive end and wasn’t providing much resistance against Aliyah Boston.
“Sometimes I did get kind of get out of game and I kind of felt myself slipping into that at halftime,” Jones said in postgame. “I just kind of talked myself out of it and understanding that there’s no room for that. So yeah, it’s just just going out there playing, trusting my teammates, and trusting that we’re going to make the right play for each other because that’s what makes us successful as a team, and just playing the game.”
In the fourth, Jones and the Liberty helped hold Boston to just 1-7 shooting as the defensive intensity and teamwork increased exponentially
On the other side of the ball, JJ singlehandedly kept the offense afloat and outscored the Fever herself (14-12). We saw the entire arsenal on display as Jones was able to work in the post, get to the free throw line, and space the floor
As Sandy Brondello noted, she implored the team to get out of their hands and not worry about… stuff out there. When they do that, great things happen. It also helps to have one of basketball’s greatest defenders step up with the game on the line.
On Cloud 9
Natasha Cloud has been the story of the 2025 Liberty season so far. Tash has taken to this team and city like a glove and will be essential in New York’s journey to repeat as WNBA champions. Today, she crafted another all around masterpiece as she scored an efficient 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds, handed out six assists, collected five steals, and blocked two shots. In the final seconds, she rotated over to DeWanna Bonner and prevented DB from making the go-ahead layup
And with the game on the line, Tash got the assignment against the Fever superstar
Was Caitlin Clark fouled on the final play of the Liberty-Fever game?
She certainly thought so and was angry at the no-call. #WNBA
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing.bsky.social) 2025-05-24T19:22:33.278Z
As we said in the game preview: “Indiana and New York matching up always guarantees fireworks.”
“Everyone knows what she brings to this team and why she’s so valuable offensively and defensively,” Sabrina Ionescu said in postgame, “and she does it every single night. She plays with a lot of heart and we know what we’re gonna get from her. I think that’s why everyone was so happy when she was able to come here and be a part of this team.”
Final score: New York Liberty 90, Indiana Fever 88
Injury updates
Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images
Nyara Sabally was a late scratch this morning due to a right knee injury. During the game, Leonie Fiebich knocked knees with Kelsey Mitchell and exited the game. She was listed as questionable with a left shin injury, but did not play in the second half. In postgame, Brondello mentioned that Fiebich got hit in the shin and the team hopes that she will be OK. The Liberty have a lot of depth and started Kennedy Burke in the second half to make up for the absence of Leo and Nyara. The team is dealing with some bumps and bruises, but the victory makes all the struggle worth it.
Next up
Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
The Liberty head home for the Memorial Day holiday and will welcome an old friend back to Brooklyn. They’ll take on the Golden State Valkyries at the ‘clays on Tuesday night. Tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET.