The matchup between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday was supposed to be an equally contested game before their clash in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup finals. But instead, it became another testament to Liberty’s sheer dominance, with Sabrina Ionescu posting a season-high 16 points.

In the post game press conference, when Aces head coach Becky Hammon was asked about Ionescu’s performance, she had quite an interesting take.

“She ain’t grown nothing,” Hammon said. “Just that she’s a world-class basketball player. Not surprised that she can put a big game for you. She’s just getting back to form. She had been out for a while, but nothing that she does surprises me. She’s a very good basketball player. So, yeah, I think just getting back to form.”

Becky Hammon’s assessment is backed to the hilt. Ever since the preseason, Ionescu’s time on the court has been cut short by injuries. Firstly, she sustained a foot injury, forcing her to miss games, and then her back soreness complicated her return.

We never got to see the free-flowing nature that we often associate with Ionescu in most of the games. And mind you, it was never about skill set as Hammon said. Sabrina Ionescu is one of the most touted players of this generation and a vital cog in the New York Liberty’s backcourt.

It was just about some crucial minutes on the court that could help her get back to her groove. On Tuesday, Ionescu finally found that tempo at the Michelob Ultra Arena, choosing the perfect game to mark her return to the scoring columns. The Liberty guard exploded for 16 points on the night, shooting 5 of 12 from the field.

And even more impressive was her tenacity on the glass and defense, where she recorded 10 rebounds, including 9 on Liberty’s end of the court. Even head coach Chris DeMarco was quite content with her star perimeter player’s performance in the game.

“We knew they were going to make some runs,” DeMarco said via the New York Liberty YouTube channel. “So, really proud of this group. Loved the 10 rebounds from Sabrina.”

In all fairness, the Liberty were outright better on the night than the Aces. They outrebounded them 34-32 and even had a better shooting night from the field and deep than Hammon’s team. By the time the third frame of play concluded, Ionescu and the team had mounted a 16-point lead over the defending champions.

The Aces did explode for 25 points in the fourth quarter. But that wasn’t good enough to take down the dominance of Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart in the game. Stewart led the night with 20 points, while Leonie Fiebich, Jonquel Jones, and Han Xu also scored in double figures.

This game also marked the New York Liberty’s return to winning ways. They had faced back-to-back defeats against the Washington Mystics and the Los Angeles Sparks. But for Ionescu, this comeback win was just a part of the natural course of the season for the New York Liberty.

Sabrina Ionescu Doubles Down on the New York Liberty’s Comeback Win Against Las Vegas

Midway through the season, the New York Liberty looked almost impeccable. They had clinched eight straight wins at one point in time, outplaying every opponent that challenged them. Then came the back-to-back defeats, which subdued them to an extent.

But now that they have won over the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces should reinstate their dominance in the league. Speaking in the post-game presser, Sabrina Ionescu shared her two cents on this.

“I mean we are a veteran team,” Ionescu said. “So, we understand that moments like that can either make or break you, and it’s a long season. So, for us it was just understanding we got to focus on what we can. And come together, and not let that happen again, and continue to grow from it. If we do that it is what it is with some of those losses, and you got to take them.”

Nevertheless, this win was an early statement before Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty host the Las Vegas Aces at the Barclays Center. With the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup on the line, that game will be another tightrope contest between the two teams. That game is scheduled for June 30.

However, before that, the New York Liberty has two more regular-season games on the road: against the Seattle Storm on June 25 and the Golden State Valkyries on June 28.