The Liberty had all the momentum Sunday afternoon against the Chicago Sky.
They were on a four-game winning streak, including Friday’s win in Chicago on a Breanna Stewart shot with 7.1 seconds left, and had a 19-point lead Sunday in the second half.
When it was over all they had was their first loss since the season opener.
Kahleah Copper scored 27 points and Courtney Williams added 12, including 10 in the fourth quarter, to help the Sky seal an 86-82 win at Barclays Center.
Brenna Stewart scored 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead Liberty.
“Hopefully, this is a wake-up call. Some guys need to get up a bit. “We walked away from what worked,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. “Our profile was terrible. We don’t find ways to get it [Stewart] touches. We just didn’t play hard enough. Disappointing, but the movie isn’t going to lie. So we have to use it as a learning opportunity now.”
Down by 19 early in the third quarter, the Sky (4-3) pulled ahead for the first time in the game on a Williams jumper with 4:24 left that made it 72-70.
A few seconds later, Williams made an offensive foul on Stewart and after a challenge was denied by New York (4-2), the energetic guard leaned over to the crowd, booing.
“I have to enjoy it,” said Williams, smiling. “They were booing me. They will bring you all.”
Stewart then scored Liberty’s next six points, tying the game at 76 with just over two minutes remaining.
Williams answered with a 3 with 1:42 left.
Courtney Vandersloot got a layup with 59 seconds left to put Liberty within 80-78. Williams was then fouled and hit the first two free throws to make the game a three-point game.
After a timeout, Sabrina Ionescu was charged with an offensive foul on the inside with 27 seconds left in the game.
Chicago then hit four free throws in the final 17 seconds to seal the win. This was the second year in a row that Chicago had a massive comeback. Last season, the Sky rose from 28 points to defeat the Aces, setting a WNBA record.
