MINNEAPOLIS — Sabrina Ionescu sank a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining, lifting the New York Liberty to an 80-77 win over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night.
Ionescu’s shot from 28 feet, a few steps in front of the Lynx logo at midcourt, gave New York a 2-1 edge in the best-of-five series. The Liberty will have a chance to clinch the title Friday night in Game 4 at Minneapolis.
Breanna Stewart finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds for New York. Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebich each added 13 points. The Liberty shot 45.9 percent (28 for 61) from the field, 40 percent (10 for 25) from 3-point range and made all 14 of their free-throw attempts.
Napheesa Collier lead Minnesota with 22 points, nine rebounds and five steals. Kayla McBride scored 19 points and Bridget Carleton contributed 14. The Lynx shot 38.7 percent (29 of 75) from the field, 42.9 (9 for 21) from beyond the arc and 83.3 percent (10 of 12) at the free-throw line.
Both teams traded clutch 3-pointers during a hard-fought fourth quarter.
Stewart tied the score at 66-all with a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 6:57 to go.
On the other end of the court, McBride answered with her own quick-release 3-pointer from the top of the key. She screamed encouragement at her teammates after the shot.
Stewart quieted McBride and the Minnesota crowd moments later. She converted a three-point play with a layup and a free throw to even the score at 69-all.
The battle continued into the final minute as Collier calmly sank a pair of free throws to make it 77-all with 16 seconds left.
After Ionescu’s deep 3-pointer, the Lynx had a final chance to force overtime. McBride rushed a 3-pointer that caromed off the glass as the final horn sounded.
Minnesota clung to a 62-61 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Lynx built a 60-50 advantage when McBride buried a 3-pointer with 2:28 remaining in the quarter. The shot prompted the Liberty to call a timeout.
The strategy worked. New York closed the quarter on an 11-2 run to pull within one point. Stewart finished the flurry with a three-point play with 19.5 seconds left in the quarter.
The Lynx led 43-35 at the half as McBride led all scorers with 13 points. Fiebich scored 10 to lead the Liberty.
In front of the largest crowd in team history, the Lynx stormed to a 23-9 lead. McBride made a floating jump shot to cap the early outburst.
The Liberty rebounded to trim the deficit to 28-18 entering the second quarter.
–Tom Musick, Field Level Media
