Ionescu scored 36 points, Emma Meesseman had 11 points in her return to the WNBA, and visiting New York bounced back from their worst loss of the season Friday with the victory in Connecticut.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The Connecticut Sun gave the New York Liberty a fight in Sunday’s rematch after upsetting the defending WNBA champions Friday night, but the last-place team in the league came up short in an 87-78 loss at Mohegan Sun Arena.

New York, which is riddled with injuries, got a lift from Emma Meesseman in her Liberty debut. The Belgium star, who spent most of the first half settling in, finished with a modest 11 points, two rebounds and three assists in her first WNBA game since 2022. Jonquel Jones added 21 points and nine rebounds.