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Sabrina Ionescu rescues Liberty against Sparks

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Aug 13, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) collides with Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (5) in the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesAug 13, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) collides with Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (5) in the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Sabrina Ionescu scored 12 of her 20 points in a chaotic fourth quarter as the host New York Liberty held on to defeat the Los Angeles Sparks, 85-81, on Thursday night.

New York built a 28-point lead and withstood a 21-0 Sparks run in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles got as close as one point with 22 seconds remaining.

But Ionescu made two free throws, and Ariel Atkins missed a 3-pointer on the other end. Ionescu then made one more free throw to ice the game.

New York (21-14) is 8-2 over its past 10 games. The Liberty have also won five straight home games.

Besides Ionescu, Jonquel Jones had a big game for the Liberty with 11 points, a game-high 18 rebounds and four assists.

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The Sparks (12-21) have lost 10 of their past 12 games. Rae Burrell led the Sparks with a game-high 28 points, including 10-of-19 shooting overall and 5-of-10 on 3-pointers.

New York got off to a slow start, missing six of its first seven shots as Los Angeles took a 6-2 lead. But Breanna Stewart scored the game’s next six points, and, by the end of the first quarter, the Liberty led 21-16. Stewart finished the game with 11 points.

The Liberty extended their lead to 16 points midway through the second quarter. By halftime, New York led 49-32.

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Jones led New York in the first half with 10 points and 12 rebounds, including five on the offensive end. Eight of her points came on put-backs. As a team, the Liberty had first-half advantages in paint points (32-12); fast-break points (12-2); rebounds (25-14); and points off turnovers (12-5).

In the third quarter, New York stretched its lead to 67-41. Los Angeles scored just nine points in the third, making it New York’s best defensive quarter of the season.

Early in the fourth, Sparks standouts Cameron Brink and Burrell crashed heads. Both of them hit the deck, but they remained in the game. In fact, they both hit 3-pointers after the collision, and that sparked Los Angeles to its 21-0 run.

Brink then left the game with 6:00 remaining as Stewart charged into her for an offensive foul. Brink did not return.

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–Field Level Media

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JGR vs Chris Gabehart, Spire lawsuit takes another turn as court date is set for counterclaims

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14 August 2026

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The ongoing legal battle between Joe Gibbs Racing, Spire Motorsports, and Chris Gabehart has taken another turn, with a hearing now scheduled to address the counterclaims filed against JGR. Renowned NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass reported on X that the heading on whether to dismiss those counterclaims is set for August 26.

Earlier this year, JGR filed its $8 million lawsuit against its former competition director Chris Gabehart after he left the team to join Spire as its chief motorsports officer. The team accused Gabehart of taking confidential team information and violating his obligations to the organization after leaving for a leadership position with Spire. The case has since expanded to include claims and counterclaims from all sides.

Bob Pockrass on Thursday reported that a court date has been set to dismiss counterclaims filed by Spire and Gabehart and coach Joe Gibbs’ team.

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One of the counterclaims at the center of the upcoming hearing comes from Gabehart, who alleges that JGR did not pay him everything he was owed. Spire Motorsports has also filed counterclaims against JGR, with the team alleging that Coach Joe Gibbs’ team failed to reciprocate an arrangement involving car chief Cheddar Smith.

“A hearing on whether to dismiss counterclaims Chris Gabehart and Spire filed against JGR is set for Aug. 26. Gabehart claims include JGR didn’t pay him everything he’s owed, Spire claims JGR never reciprocated what it promised when Spire let car chief Cheddar Smith to go to 54.” Pockrass wrote.

A hearing on whether to dismiss counterclaims Chris Gabehart and Spire filed against JGR is set for Aug. 26. Gabehart claims include JGR didn’t pay him everything he’s owed, Spire claims JGR never reciprocated what it promised when Spire let car chief Cheddar Smith to go to 54.

JGR previously withdrew one of the allegations against Spire and Chris Gabehart

JGR has withdrawn its explosive allegations that its former employee Chris Gabehart is running or deeply involved in Spire’s competition strategy and decisions.

Last month, JGR released a statement noting that JGR withdraws their claim and acknowledged in a court filing that it “does not possess nonprivileged information sufficient to support the allegations.”

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In the filing, the JGR said:

“In discovery Spire Motorsports II, LLC (“Spire”) requested information supporting the allegations contained in paragraph 129 of the Second Amended Complaint. JGR responded to Spire’s request and concedes that it does not possess nonprivileged information sufficient to support the allegations contained in paragraph 129 of the Second Amended Complaint.”

The case is now moving toward a larger trial after legal teams have failed to reach an out-of-court settlement. U.S. District Judge Susan C. Rodriguez has scheduled a 9-day jury trial for the lawsuit to begin on February 1, 2027, right before the Daytona 500.