Satou Sabally’s bench production lifts New York Liberty to victory against Atlanta Dream

The Commissioner’s Cup has been a past indicator of the New York Liberty ’s future.

In 2023, they beat the Las Vegas Aces in the Cup final before losing to them in the WNBA championship series. The following year, they lost to the Minnesota Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game but won their first WNBA title that fall, beating the Lynx in a five-game series.

Thursday’s 104-90 win over the Atlanta Dream might be just another game. Or, with a commanding lead in the Commissioner’s Cup Eastern Conference standings, it might be the earliest indication of what’s to come.

The Liberty have two remaining Commissioner’s Cup games to solidify their place in the Cup final. They still have to face the Washington Mystics on Sunday and the Chicago Sky on Wednesday.

“We want to make sure that, over the next (two games), we try to win them all, just so … our growth as a team is continuing to be upward,” Liberty forward Breanna Stewart said. “Of course, knowing we would have an opportunity to be in the Commissioner’s Cup championship just shows that we’re one of the best teams at the halfway point of the season.”

New York (9-4) has been on an ascent under first-year coach Chris DeMarco despite navigating early injuries and absences. In the past two weeks, they’ve notched six straight wins, including Thursday’s road victory against the Dream and last Saturday against the Indiana Fever , two opponents in the top half of the WNBA standings.

But the Dream were arguably the most formidable opponent the Liberty have faced this season. And in the face of that challenge in enemy territory, they put together one of their most complete games of the season. Five players finished scoring in double figures, including Satou Sabally with 19 points off the bench.

Stewart matched Sabally’s scoring output and added 11 rebounds and five assists. Marine Johannes added 17 points, and Jonquel Jones and Pauline Astier finished with 16 points each. Astier also had eight rebounds, five assists and one turnover.