Sabrina Ionescu hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1 second left and Breanna Stewart scored 30 points to help the New York Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx 80-77 on Wednesday night, taking a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.
The Liberty are one victory away from winning their first title. Game 4 is Friday night in Minnesota with a deciding fifth game in New York on Sunday if necessary.
With the game tied at 77, Ionescu had the ball and dribbled around before pulling up a few steps behind the arc and and hitting the 3-pointer that broke the tie.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST SHOTS IN LIBERTY FINALS HISTORY FROM SABRINA IONESCU 😱🔥<br><br>The Liberty takes Game 3! <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFinals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#WNBAFinals</a> presented by <a href=”https://twitter.com/YouTubeTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@YouTubeTV</a> <a href=”https://t.co/Whv0AMnNl9″>pic.twitter.com/Whv0AMnNl9</a>
—@WNBA
Minnesota didn’t get a real shot to tie at the buzzer.
The Liberty have appeared in the finals five times before, including last season, and lost each one.
Bridget Carleton got the Lynx within 77-75 with a layup 21 seconds later. On New York’s next possession Ionescu had a 3-pointer go halfway through the basket before popping out and Minnesota got the rebound. Napheesa Collier was then fouled with 16 seconds left and hit both free throws to tie it setting up the exciting finish.
Collier finished with 22 points and Kayla McBride 19 for Minnesota.
WATCH l Liberty evens WNBA Finals, winning Game 2:
New York beats Minnesota 80-66 in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals to even their best-of-five series 1-1. Breanna Stewart records a game-high 21 points, an WNBA Finals record seven steals, eight rebounds, five assists and one blocked shot. Chatham, Ont., native Bridget Carleton finishes with 8 points, four rebounds and three assists for the Lynx.
