The New York Liberty opened their WNBA title defence with a 92-78 win over the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday after raising their 2024 championship banner to the rafters of Barclays Center.

Breanna Stewart led the way with 25 points, while 2024 Finals MVP Jonquel Jones opened the 2025 season with 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Riding the energy of a sell-out crowd of over 17,000 fans, New York led by 14 at half-time before the Aces mounted a third-quarter rally.

The Liberty responded by winning the fourth quarter 29-20 to open the season with a win.

Three-time league MVP A’ja Wilson led the way for Las Vegas with 31 points and 16 rebounds.

We heard y'all wanted the full ceremony? WE GOT YOU pic.twitter.com/PariqTVT6m

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) May 17, 2025

Fever, Clark shine after Reese dustup

Caitlin Clark recorded the third triple-double of her career, and the Indiana Fever routed the 93-58 Chicago Sky after a brief confrontation between Clark and Angel Reese.

Clark opened her sophomore season in the WNBA with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, while Aliyah Boston had 19 points and 13 rebounds.

Tempers flared in the third quarter when Clark committed a hard foul on Reese’s arm in the paint.

The two rivals exchanged words before being separated, and Clark’s foul was upgraded to a flagrant 1.

Reese finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds, while Sky rookie Hailey Van Lith scored four points in her professional debut.

New-look Mercury handle Storm

Satou Sabally had 27 points and six rebounds, Alyssa Thomas added 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and the new-look Phoenix Mercury beat the Seattle Storm 81-59.

Sabally and Thomas were two of the eight players to make their Mercury debut on Saturday after an offseason full of change.

Alexa Held had 11 points and three assists off the bench for Phoenix, and Alexis Prince grabbed a team-high eight rebounds in her reserve role.

Skyler Diggins led Seattle with 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting, but the rest of the Storm combined to shoot 14 for 49 (28.6%) from the field.