Minneapolis — Wednesday night, Sabrina Ionescu witnessed Breanna Stewart lead the New York Liberty throughout the game. When the moment came to secure the win, the spotlight shifted to Ionescu.
“In the timeout, coach Sandy Brondello said, ‘You’re going to take the shot,’” Ionescu recalled.
With only one second left on the clock, Ionescu sank a 3-pointer from 28 feet, clinching an 80-77 victory over the Minnesota Lynx. This win puts the Liberty just one game away from capturing their first WNBA championship.
Now leading the finals 2-1, the Liberty find themselves in a position they’ve never been before: ahead in the championship series. They have the opportunity to claim the title on Friday night in Minnesota.
“We know we’re just one game away from winning the championship,” Stewart, a two-time champion with Seattle, stated. “They’re going to give us their best effort, and we plan to do the same. The turnaround is quick, but we will be ready.”
Ionescu noted that she had to review the video of her game-winning shot afterward to truly appreciate the moment.
“I couldn’t really recall it. I had to watch the replay to see how far I was from the basket,” she explained. “I managed to create a bit of space and got a solid shot off.”
With the score tied at 77, Ionescu dribbled before stepping back and launching the shot from well beyond the arc.
“It’s a special moment. It was never in doubt. Stewie really helped us get back into the game, but at that moment, it was all about Sabrina,” Brondello praised. “She’s an exceptional shooter, and she just needed a bit of room.”
Stewart dominated the second half, scoring 22 of her 30 points while adding 11 rebounds and four blocks.
“We don’t win this game without Stewie,” Ionescu admitted. “That shot is great, but what she did to rally us back into the game was incredible.”
Minnesota was unable to get a decent shot off as time expired.
“A great player made a great shot,” said Lynx guard Kayla McBride. “I defended her for 40 minutes.”
The Liberty fought back from a 15-point deficit to inch closer to their first title.
“There were plenty of things we could improve on tonight, so we need to stay focused,” Stewart said. “We’re thrilled to have this win, but the job isn’t finished yet.”
The Liberty have previously reached the finals five times, including last season, but have come up short each time.
With 2:26 remaining in the fourth quarter and trailing 73-69, the Liberty scored eight consecutive points, starting with five from Jonquel Jones. Ionescu, who had a relatively subdued game, followed with another 3-pointer after a Lynx miss, pushing New York ahead 77-73 with just 55.5 seconds left.
Bridget Carleton pulled the Lynx within two with a layup 21 seconds later. On New York’s next possession, Ionescu had a near-miss on a 3-pointer, which bounced out after nearly falling through, allowing Minnesota to reclaim the rebound.
Napheesa Collier was fouled with 16 seconds on the clock and converted both free throws to tie the game, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
Collier finished the contest with 22 points, while McBride chipped in 19 for the Lynx.
“Our defense gave us a chance to win the game, plain and simple, and our offense has to support that,” said Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve. “If someone had told me we would get the stops we needed and still not reach 80 points, I would have found that surprising.”
In a reversal from the first two games, Minnesota built a double-digit lead in the first half. The Lynx, who had only held the lead for about three minutes in the previous two matchups, were up 60-50 with 2:28 left in the third quarter. However, the Liberty closed the gap to 62-61 by the end of the quarter, with Stewart scoring the final five points, including a three-point play with 19 seconds remaining.
She continued her momentum into the fourth quarter, scoring the first eight points for New York and tying the game at 69 with another three-point play with 6:18 to go.
Carleton managed two free throws to break the tie just 12 seconds later. Neither team scored again until Courtney Williams hit a baseline jumper with 2:26 left, giving the Lynx a four-point lead.
NEXT UP:
Minnesota Plays The Liberty at home on Friday.