NEW YORK (AP) — Breanna Stewart scored 25 points and Natasha Cloud added 22 points to help New York Liberty beat Las Vegas ACES 92-78 92-78 in the season opener after the team launched its 2024 WNBA Championship flag.

New York held a 15-minute ceremony before the game, with players winning the championship ring and the banner being carried to the Barclays Center, delighting the sold-out crowd at 17,344.

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Freely leveraging the ritual’s momentum and energy to beat rival Ace, who eliminated their rivals in the WNBA playoff semifinals last year.

New York established a 14-point halftime lead before the Las Vegas elimination to beat 66-64 early in the fourth quarter. Yun came to freedom in the offseason trade, and then scored 8-0 in a row of three-pointers, leaving 5:47, giving him a score of 74-64.

Las Vegas can only be within the remaining six.

A'ja Wilson led Las Vegas with 31 points and 16 rebounds. Jackie Young contributed 16 points to the Aces, who lacked reserves of Crystal Bradford. Bradford has offered a single game suspension for an event starting in 2021. This is her first time in the regular season roster since then.

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Fever 93, sky 58

Indianapolis (AP) - Caitlin Clark opened the season with her third triple-double in her career, with the new-looking Indiana dominating the final 16 1/2 minutes away from the modified Chicago.

Last season's WNBA Rookie of the Year ended the game with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists while blocking a career-high four goals. Aliyah Boston added 19 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks, while Natasha Howard scored 15 points in his fever debut.

Dewanna Bonner scored a final seven points in his career in the WNBA, making it to Tina Thompson. Bonner now has 7,489 points.

Angel Reese scored 12 points and 17 rebounds for the Sky, losing to Indiana State three quarters last season. Ariel Atkins added 11 points.

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But the game is defined by the latest chapter in the competition for Clark-Reese. This time, Clark on Reese's arm made a tough foul, who relaxed the ball and knocked Reese to the floor with 4:38 left in the third quarter. As Reese jumped to face Clark, fever center Aliyah Boston walked down between the two players as Clark left the skirmish.

The referee escalated Clark's foul to blatant 1 and evaluated technical fouls against Rees and Boston after the replay review.

But Indiana finished the third quarter with a 9-0 lead to a 65-45 lead after Reese made one of two free throws and Courtney Vandersloot scored a layup in the subsequent property. The sky never really threatens Indiana leadership.