The New York Liberty improved to 2-0 with a 98-93 win in overtime over the Washington Mystics on Sunday despite again playing without All-Stars Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally.

Marine Johannes knocked down six three-pointers and scored 25, Breanna Stewart had 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks, and undrafted rookie Pauline Astier added 18 points, seven assists, five boards and a pair of steals to lead the Liberty.

Ionescu, a four-time All-Star who averaged 18.2 points last season and led New York with 5.7 assists per game, is expected to remain out at least another week with a left foot injury sustained in a preseason game last Sunday.

Three-time All-Star Sabally has yet to make her Liberty debut due to a cyst after averaging 16.3 points and 5.9 rebounds last season while helping the Phoenix Mercury advance to the WNBA Finals.

She led Phoenix with 19 points per game during the play-offs while averaging seven rebounds.

Kiki Iriafen had 20 points and 12 rebounds, Sonia Citron scored 17 and Shakira Austin added 16 points and 10 boards for the Mystics, who opened their season with a 68-65 win over the expansion Toronto Tempo on Friday.

Took the show on the road and got the W #SEAFOAMSZN | #LIGHTITUPNYL pic.twitter.com/HU0AMRdmJC

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) May 10, 2026

The Golden State Valkyries joined the Liberty at 2-0 as Janelle Salaun came off the bench to score 21 and hit four three-pointers in a 95-79 victory over the Mercury.

Salaun led Golden State with 20 points and made five threes in Friday’s season-opening 91-80 win against the Seattle Storm.

Kayla Thornton and Gabby Williams added 19 points each for the Valkyries, who went 23-21 last season to set a record for most victories by an expansion team and become the first expansion club to advance to the play-offs in its debut season.

Phoenix was outscored 29-17 in the fourth quarter in the second half of a back-to-back after beginning its season with a stunning 99-66 rout of Las Vegas on Saturday after the Aces swept the Mercury in last year’s WNBA Finals.

Alyssa Thomas led the way against Golden State with 19 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds.

The @valkyries defeat the Phoenix Mercury 95-79 and move to 2-0 in the szn

Janelle Salaün: 21 PTS | 4 3PM | 3 REB | 2 AST
Gabby Williams: 19 PTS | 5 REB | 4 AST | 4 3PM | 3 AST
Kayla Thornton: 19 PTS | 3 REB | 3 3PM

WNBA Tip-Off | @CarMax pic.twitter.com/m3YQr5ghAi

— WNBA (@WNBA) May 11, 2026