It bucked the sequence’ pattern thus far, however the New York Liberty got here from behind to stun the Minnesota Lynx on their house flooring, 80-77, in Sport 3 of the WNBA Finals. With one second remaining within the fourth quarter and the rating tied 77-77, Sabrina Ionescu quieted what had been a raucous Goal Heart crowd, nailing one of many largest pictures in WNBA Finals historical past to assist the Liberty safe a 2-1 sequence benefit.
“I trusted my preparation. I am constructed for this second,” Ionescu advised ESPN’s Holly Rowe through the sport broadcast. “I missed one that might’ve sealed the sport, and I simply bought an open look, and I trusted that I might make it.”
The Lynx confirmed great resiliency, coming again to win Sport 1, however on Wednesday, it was the Liberty’s flip. New York led 5-4 lower than a minute into Sport 3 however did not bounce forward of Minnesota once more till there was 1:30 remaining within the fourth quarter.
Trailing by 10 after one quarter and by as many as 15 within the first half, the Liberty outscored the Lynx 45-34 after halftime, led by Ionescu’s enormous shot and a ridiculous second-half efficiency from two-time MVP Breanna Stewart.
Wednesday’s game-winner wasn’t the one colossal shot Ionescu made within the fourth quarter. With 55.1 seconds left, she hit solely her second three-pointer of the evening after beginning 1-of-6 from past the arc, giving the Liberty a 77-73 lead.
In the meantime, Stewart had solely eight factors on the break on 3-of-8 capturing however turned it on within the second half, scoring 22 factors, practically half of the Liberty’s output. The six-time All-Star completed with a game-high 30 factors, passing Corridor of Famer Lisa Leslie for seventh on the WNBA’s all-time playoff scoring record.
Her efficiency was additionally historic:
Conversely, Minnesota crumbled below the strain late after popping out with weapons blazing in entrance of the largest crowd within the franchise’s historical past. Getting into the fourth quarter up by one, 62-61, the Lynx shot simply 5-of-12 within the closing stanza, all however sealing their destiny.
Regardless of the loss, the Lynx obtained stellar outings from Napheesa Collier (22 factors, 9 rebounds, 5 steals) and Kayla McBride (19 factors, 5 three-pointers). Though, after giving the Liberty their finest shot, they will have to return to the drafting board forward of Sport 4 on Friday.
Falling behind the Lynx within the best-of-five sequence, 1-0, the Liberty have responded in an enormous means. First, with a formidable 14-point victory in Sport 2 adopted by Wednesday’s come-from-behind effort, proving they’ll win any model of sport put in entrance of them.
Now, just one extra victory stands between New York and its first WNBA title.
