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…
