Emma Meesseman and Jonquel Jones powered NY Liberty past the Sparks 105–97 as Sandy Brondello set a franchise wins record. Full recap + how to watch.
Why this Liberty vs Sparks game mattered
The New York Liberty are juggling injuries, integrating a new star, and chasing top seeding. The Los Angeles Sparks, meanwhile, are scrapping through a heavy stretch and building an identity around Dearica Hamby, Kelsey Plum and a rejuvenated supporting cast. Into that stew came Tuesday night’s meeting at Crypto.com Arena, where New York not only grabbed a needed road win but also made a bit of franchise history.
New York beat Los Angeles 105–97, its highest point total of the season, behind Emma Meesseman’s 24 and Jonquel Jones’ 21 & 11, while head coach Sandy Brondello became the Liberty’s all-time winningest coach. Context, numbers, and what it means below — plus where to watch New York Liberty vs Los Angeles Sparks the rest of the way.
Liberty vs Sparks Quick Recap: Liberty 105, Sparks 97
- The headliners: Emma Meesseman looked fully settled in green — 24 points, 9 boards — mixing short-roll touch with midrange poise. Jonquel Jones bullied the paint for 21 & 11 and anchored New York’s best half-court stretches. Leonie Fiebich splashed spacing threes en route to 20. For L.A., Kelsey Plum poured in 26, Dearica Hamby had 21 & 8, while Azurá Stevens (17) and Rickea Jackson (16) kept it close.
- The pivotal swing: After a 30-point first quarter by L.A., New York strangled the second frame (Sparks 14 points) and took a 50–44 lead to halftime. A late surge from Natasha Cloud and Sabrina Ionescu pushed it out of reach.
- History made: The win marked Brondello’s 101st regular-season victory in New York — the most in franchise history — celebrated postgame in the locker room.
A shorthanded champion finds its rhythm
New York entered this one navigating a long injury list — Breanna Stewart (knee), Nyara Sabally (knee), Isabelle Harrison (concussion) — and leaning on fresh signing Emma Meesseman, who has been candid about on-the-fly chemistry and expectations after joining in July. The Liberty had dropped games to the Lynx amid the adjustment period, but Meesseman’s presence has quickly raised their offensive floor.
The bench has been patched together as well: Kennedy Burke was cleared only for an “emergency” dress vs. the Sparks, as New York barely scraped together eight active players on this West Coast swing. Stephanie Talbot has even toggled up to frontcourt minutes under Brondello, illustrating just how creative the rotation has had to be.
For Los Angeles, this was the fifth game in eight days, a schedule crunch that tested legs late. Even so, Curt Miller’s group has sharpened in the half court behind Hamby’s relentlessness, Plum’s pull-up gravity and Jackson’s developing wing scoring.
Tactics & trends that decided Liberty vs Sparks
The Meesseman–JJ frontcourt solved L.A.’s coverages
New York spammed actions that forced switches and scrambles: horns sets flowing into Spain pick-and-roll, JJ as a trigger at the elbow, and Meesseman’s short-roll reads when L.A. showed two to the ball. The result: 14 made threes (a season worst allowed by L.A.) and a steady diet of inside-out rhythm jumpers.
Second-quarter defense changed the math
After the Sparks blitzed to 30 first-quarter points, New York flattened their pace and cleaned up transition matchups. L.A. mustered 14 in the second, including 1-for-5 from deep, as New York’s shell firmed up and defensive rebounding finally stuck.
Cloud and Ionescu as closers
With the Sparks threatening late, Natasha Cloud knifed for back-to-back layups, Ionescu added a late bucket, and Cloud iced it — a reminder that New York can win without needing a heliocentric star isolating every trip.
Player focus: stars, X-factors, and supporting acts
- Emma Meesseman (NY Liberty): Her 24 & 9 weren’t just counting stats; they were timely punches. The Belgian maestro’s comfort level has ticked up each game — popping, slipping, ducking in — and her high-low synergy with JJ gives Brondello lineup elasticity even with Stewart out.
- Jonquel Jones (NY Liberty): The 21 & 11 line came with command of the glass and punishing seals. When JJ plays with early post positioning, New York’s spacing sings and the ball naturally pings from inside-out.
- Leonie Fiebich (NY Liberty): The floor-opener. Her 20 points and willingness to let it fly stretched L.A. thin; defenders couldn’t sag into the paint to clog JJ/Emma touches.
- Kelsey Plum (Sparks WNBA): 26 points on tough shot-making kept the scoreboard pressurized. Her relocation threes and reject moves versus top-locks remain unsolvable in spurts.
- Dearica Hamby (Sparks): 21 & 8 plus activity on the defensive end. When the Sparks win, it’s often on the back of Hamby’s possession game and quick strikes before the defense is set.
Libs put on for the Big 🍎 in tonight’s victory in LA🤟 pic.twitter.com/LjaLC2uyPH
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) August 13, 2025
The milestone: Sandy Brondello passes into Liberty history
This victory gave Sandy Brondello her 101st regular-season win with New York — the most in franchise history — underscoring the program’s stability since she arrived in 2022. The locker-room shower celebration was fitting; the Liberty under Brondello have blended high-usage stars with role clarity and player development, culminating in last year’s long-awaited championship and another top-tier season despite injuries.
Where to watch New York Liberty vs Los Angeles Sparks (live & replays)
Fans constantly ask “where to watch New York Liberty vs Los Angeles Sparks” — especially with national, regional, and streaming partners shifting night to night. Here’s the practical guide:
- National TV matrix (2025): The Liberty have extensive national carriage across ABC/ESPN/ESPN+, CBS/CBS Sports Network, ION, Amazon Prime Video and NBA TV. Check day-of listings, as selections flex late in the year.
- Local/streaming in NYC: FOX 5 NY streams a large portion of Liberty games free in-market; YES Network carries local TV.
- Team “Where to Watch” hub: The Liberty’s official page aggregates national and regional options by game and is the safest day-of reference for links and blackout guidance.
- Sparks schedule page: The Sparks’ official schedule confirms tip times, opponents, and TV affiliates from the L.A. side.
- For this game (Aug 12): Several outlets posted time/TV/stream details and live coverage information in advance. If you’re catching up, ESPN’s game page offers condensed highlights, box, and play-by-play.
What the result means for both teams
New York Liberty
- Offensive ceiling, rediscovered: Crossing the 100-point mark without Stewart signals that New York can still reach elite efficiency with Meesseman + JJ as the interior engine, Ionescu/Cloud handling, and Fiebich/Talbot spacing. That’s massive as Stewart ramps back.
- Rotation resilience: With Burke only in an emergency role and Sabally/Harrison out, the Liberty still found two-way lineups that traveled — a good omen for a brutal August slate.
- Big-picture vibe: Meesseman was publicly demanding about standards last week; this performance matched the rhetoric. New York’s trajectory looks up if the defense sustains the second-quarter template.
Los Angeles Sparks
- Fatigue factor: Five games in eight days caught up in the middle quarters, when legs and closeouts lagged. The schedule relents soon, and rest should help restore the first-quarter tempo seen here.
- Silver linings: Plum/Hamby are a dependable 1-2; Jackson and Stevens keep adding layers. If L.A. cleans up second-chance points allowed and cuts the opponent’s three-point volume, this is a playoff-caliber attack.
Key numbers that tell the story
- 105 — New York’s season-high points.
- 14 — Liberty made threes, the most allowed by L.A. this season.
- 24/9 — Meesseman’s line, highlighting how quickly she’s integrated.
- 21/11 — JJ’s double-double, the interior base New York leaned on repeatedly.
- 30 → 14 — Sparks’ first to second-quarter drop; the game’s hinge.
- 101 — Brondello’s franchise-record regular-season wins with the Liberty.
What to watch next time these teams meet
- Matchup chess: Hamby vs. the two-big look
If L.A. can drag JJ or Meesseman into space and punish with early-clock drives, New York may have to toggle into smaller lineups — especially once the roster gets healthier. - Sparks’ three-point defense
Giving up 14 threes is a non-starter against a team built to shoot over the top. Expect more top-locks and scram switches to chase Fiebich and shrink the strong side. - Turnover battle
When New York is loose with the ball, they’re vulnerable (see recent Lynx losses). Clean handling — especially from secondary ball-handlers — is the throughline between contender and coin-flip.