Sabrina Ionescu Leads New York Liberty to Stunning Game 3 Win Over Minnesota Lynx

Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty are just one victory away from securing the franchise’s first WNBA title after an exhilarating 80-77 triumph over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 of the finals. This win puts the Liberty ahead in the series with a 2-1 lead.

The climax of the game unfolded in a nail-biting finish. With the score knotted at 77 and only two seconds left on the clock, Ionescu delivered a stunning three-pointer from near the logo, sealing the victory for her team.

However, the path to victory was fraught with challenges. The Liberty entered halftime trailing, largely due to the impressive performance of Lynx guard Kayla McBride, who had amassed 13 points by the end of the second quarter.

The Liberty showcased their resilience in the second half, rallying behind the strong play of Breanna Stewart. Midway through the fourth quarter, Stewart’s three-pointer tied the game at 66, igniting the Liberty’s comeback. Both teams exchanged baskets, with Liberty forward Jonquel Jones eventually giving New York the lead. Ionescu then extended the advantage to 77-73 with a crucial three-pointer with less than a minute remaining.

Despite the Liberty’s momentum, the Lynx weren’t finished yet. Star player Napheesa Collier sank two free throws, leveling the score at 77 with just 16 seconds left. In a tense moment, Ionescu, who had struggled throughout the game, received the inbound pass and became the hero with her game-winning shot, marking a remarkable 15-point comeback—the third-largest in WNBA Finals history. Stewart finished with an impressive 30 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks, while Ionescu contributed 13 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Reflecting on the decisive shot, Ionescu humorously admitted she had to review the play afterward: “Sometimes it goes in and sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve practiced that shot a thousand times in my head, and I feel like that’s just something that as athletes, you put yourself in that position to want to be able to make a shot.”

Ionescu described her winning shot as “the biggest shot of my career and hopefully not the last.”

Looking ahead, Game 4 is set for Friday at 8 p.m. ET in Minneapolis. Stewart, while acknowledging the team’s proximity to the championship, stressed the importance of maintaining focus. “We know we’re one game away from winning the championship,” she noted. “They are going to give us their best shot, and you know what, so are we.”

On the other side, despite the loss, Collier achieved a significant milestone of her own. The 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year scored 22 points in the game, bringing her postseason total to 249 points. This achievement allowed her to surpass Diana Taurasi for the most points scored in a single postseason in WNBA history, a record that had stood since 2009.

As the Liberty and Lynx prepare for Game 4, the stakes are higher than ever. With Ionescu’s clutch performance and Stewart’s dominant play, New York is poised to make history, while Minnesota will look to regroup and fight back in front of their home crowd. The championship series continues to deliver thrilling basketball, and fans are eagerly anticipating what’s next in this gripping showdown.