It was a back-and-forth affair with both teams going on runs, but in crunch time, the No. 1-seed New York Liberty were just a hair sharper than the No. 2-seed Minnesota Lynx, winning on the road 80-77 to take a 2-1 series lead in the 2024 WNBA Finals.
Sabrina Ionescu made the biggest shot of her career, hitting a dagger 3-pointer over Kayla McBride near the top of the logo to seal the result.
Ionescu’s moment reminded me of two Michaels. First, as she jogged back to the other side of the court after the dagger, she had her tongue out like vintage Michael Jordan. Then, she stared down the crowd like Michael Myers: emotionless, inevitable, horrific.
During a sideline interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Ionescu discussed why she took a logo 3-pointer with the game on the line, explaining:
I trust in my preparation. I’m built for this moment. I missed one that could’ve sealed the game, and I just got an open look, and I trusted that I could make it. My teammates got me open, and, God, it feels good to get a win.
Ionescu ended the night with 13 points, five rebounds and six assists.
But it wasn’t just the Ionescu show. It took all of New York to rally in the fourth and earn the win. Breanna Stewart had a game-high 30 points, along with 11 rebounds, and Jonquel Jones came up big, scoring five of her 13 in the final quarter. On the Minnesota side, they played a complete game. Four starters were in double figures, and Napheesa Collier led the way with 22 points, nine rebounds and five steals. They were just out-executed late, similar to what happened to New York in Game 1.
This series is far from done, as the Lynx will host the must-win Game 4 on Friday. At this point, it’s simple: a loss ends their season and gives the Liberty their first WNBA title, and a win forces a Game 5 in New York on Sunday.
Minnesota’s hot start
Things didn’t end how the Lynx wanted, but they certainly started well, going on a 21-7 run to begin the game. In the past two Finals games, New York got going early. Now, the Lynx were in control and looked primed to win Game 3.
Starter-turned-reserve Courtney Vandersloot helped stop the bleeding for New York, scoring five points in the closing minutes of the quarter to bring the deficit down to 10 heading into the second. Nyara Sabally was coming up big for the Liberty defensively and also scored a pair of field goals in the second quarter. Yet, the Lynx kept the advantage and entered the half up by eight points.
However, a serious wrinkle in this game, and potentially the rest of the series, is Alanna Smith’s injury. She appeared to fall hard on the floor in the second quarter and injure her back. She was able to play the rest of the game, but looked limited and in pain. Her status and effectiveness for Game 4 will be critical for Minnesota.
New York’s comeback
Midway through the third, the Liberty finally started to chip away at the deficit. Stewart scored seven points as part of an 11-5 New York run that got the Liberty within five points with 3:20 left in the quarter. The Lynx threw cold water on this hot streak, scoring five unanswered and bringing their advantage back to double digits. The Liberty called timeout and then made their real run.
Leonie Fiebich, known more for her defense, contributed a 3-pointer, Ionescu added a 3 of her own and Stewart closed the quarter with five-straight points. Suddenly, the Lynx lead was down to the slimmest of margins, one point heading into the final frame.
The back-and-forth final stretch
The opening minutes of the fourth were intense, but ugly. Neither team scored during the first two minutes of action. Collier ended the drought with a nice finish near the rim. Stewart countered with a jumper, which Courtney Williams then responded to with a 3-pointer. Stewart was relentless, however, and hit another shot from downtown, evening the score at 66 with 6:57 left to play. Minnesota was up 71-69 at the 6:06 mark, and we had another scoring drought until Williams scored for the Lynx with 2:52 left in the game.
Clutch time saw elite play on both sides of the ball. It was poetry in motion, the kind of game the basketball gods likely replay in perpetuity. Jones scored on an Ionescu dime to give New York its first lead since the game’s opening minute. After another 3-pointer from Ionescu, the Liberty were up 77-73 with 55 seconds left, and suddenly, the Lynx were scrambling and searching for answers.
They found one in Bridget Carleton, who got Minnesota a bucket. After another defensive stop, Collier was fouled on the other end of the floor and hit a pair of free throws to tie things up at 77 with 16 seconds left.
Then, the climax of the game occurred. The Lynx had a foul to give and used it, giving the Liberty just 10.9 seconds to score. Ionescu inbounded the ball to Fiebich, who gave it right back to Ionescu, and the rest, as they say, is history. Minnesota still had a second left and attempted a game-winner, but McBride didn’t get a good look and was unable to force overtime.
Closing thoughts
What a game it was. Things are far from done, but the Liberty are in the driver’s seat. Minnesota will now have to show they are ready for this moment and respond with their best game of the year on Friday. Expect a big game from Collier, clutch shooting from Williams and, hopefully, a healthy Smith.
For the Liberty, this moment is 28 years in the making. They are just one win away from the title that has eluded them since the inaugural WNBA season, which ended with them losing in the Finals to the Houston Comets. On Friday, they can write their own history. Stewart can win her third title and continue building her GOAT case, while Ionescu can deliver the ring many expected her to win when she joined the W back in 2020.
The job’s not finished and the Lynx are far from done.
