After losing by five points to the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday, the New York Liberty lost another close one on Sunday, this time against the Toronto Tempo.
Sabrina Ionescu exploded for 28 points, four rebounds, eight assists and three steals, while Breanna Stewart tallied 22 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. However, their all-around efforts were not enough to take down a Tempo squad led by Marina Mabrey.
Mabrey finished with 30 points to power Toronto to a 93-91 victory at Bell Centre in Montreal.
Making the loss even more frustrating for Ionescu, she was assessed a technical foul during the contest.
When Ionescu made a layup with 7:17 left to play in the fourth quarter, Nyara Sabally was called for a shooting foul. After reviewing the play, though, the referees hit Ionescu with a tech. The broadcast mentioned that the four-time All-Star hit Sabally's face when going down, prompting the decision.
Eric Bolte-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
It was Ionescu's first tech of the season, so the WNBA is due to fine her $500.
The league's rules state that a player's first three technical fouls each carry a $500 fine. For the fourth through seventh technical fouls, the fine increases to $1,000 each. Anything beyond that carries a $1,500 fine, along with a one-game suspension for every other tech.
It's worth noting that it was not only Ionescu who received a technical foul during the game. Her Liberty teammate Betnijah Laney-Hamilton was also assessed a tech and ejected after accidentally hitting Mabrey with a shoe while throwing it. Earlier in the game, Laney-Hamilton was also assessed a Flagrant 1 foul.
Along with the $500 fine for the tech, Laney-Hamilton is set to pay another $500 for her flagrant foul.
