Mystics spoil debut of star-studded Liberty lineup

Ariel Atkins and Natasha Cloud each scored 14 points and Elena Elle Donne added 13 as the host Washington Mystics spoiled the debut of the new, star-studded New York Liberty, rolling to an 80-64 victory on Friday night.

Kristi Toliver scored 10 for the Mystics, who pushed the pace to shoot 45.7 percent and owned a 16-2 advantage on fast-break points. However, it was Washington's trademark tough defense - which allowed a WNBA-low 75.9 average points in 2022 -- that controlled the Liberty, who shot 34.3 percent, including 7-of-31 from 3-point range, and committed 22 turnovers.

Sabrina Ionescu had 18 points with eight rebounds for New York, which was outplayed by Washington, even with the additions of former league MVPs Breanna Stewart (12 points, 12 rebounds) and Jonquel Jones (five points) and four-time All-Star Courtney Vandersloot (eight points, six assists). The Liberty are an original WNBA franchise still without a title but saddled with high 2023 expectations.

New York scored the game's first five points, but just seven more the rest of the first quarter. The Liberty, which opened 5-of-23 shooting, led 10-6, but Washington used a 16-2 run -- featuring spurts of 7-0 and 9-0 -- into the second quarter to lead 22-12.

Tianna Hawkins had four points during that stretch for the Mystics, who held a 13-2 advantage in first-half bench points. Baskets by Stewart and Ionescu got New York within 22-17 in the second quarter, but Washington closed the half on a 17-9 run. Delle Donne scored six of her 11 first-half points during that closing push, including a bucket that gave the Mystics a 39-26 halftime lead.

Washington scored the first five points of the second half, highlighted by Atkins' three-point play, to lead 44-26. However, the Liberty used an 8-2 spurt to get within 46-34, but Atkins and Brittney Sykes followed with buckets to put Washington ahead by 16 with 4:30 remaining in the third.

The Mystics led by as many as 24, but a late 16-3 run got the Liberty within 72-61 with 3:05 to play. However, four points from Cloud down the stretch helped Washington maintain control.