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The New York Liberty suffered a historic collapse Wednesday in Chicago as they let the Sky score 42 points in the fourth quarter. That’s a WNBA record.
Final score: Sky 101, Liberty
Much of the Sky’s damage came at the line. Chicago only made one field goal in the final three minutes of the game, but secured it by making 16-of-18 free-throw attempts during the span. Courtney Vandersloot’s free throw with 1:12 remaining gave Chicago a nine-point lead, and New York couldn’t get closer than three points from there.
Joe Tsai’s team is now 8-12, having lost four straight and seven of the last eight. After a slow start this season, the Liberty had a good run, winning four straight at one point, but have lost in a number of ways. One constant has been turnovers. Again Wednesday night, the Liberty gave up the ball 16 times, six times by Tina Charles.
Charles led New York (8-14) with 24 points, six assists and five rebounds. Rebecca Allen, the Liberty’s shooting guard from Australia, added 21, making six 3-pointers. Marine Johannes, who Tsai’s front office signed out of the French league, scored 16 off the bench.
Allie Quigley scored 22 points, Jantel Lavender had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Sky who have won five of their last six and are now 13-9.