The Liberty are one victory away from winning their first title. Game 4 is Friday night in Minnesota and a decisive Game 5 would be in New York on Sunday if necessary.
MINNEAPOLIS — Sabrina Ionescu scored a tie-breaking triple with 1 second left and Breanna Stewart scored 30 points to help New York Liberty to win the Minnesota Lynx 80-77 on Wednesday night, taking a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.
Las Liberty They are one victory away from winning their first title. He Game 4 is Friday night in Minnesota and a decisive Game 5 in New York on Sunday if necessary.
With the game tied at 77, Ionescu had the ball and dribbled before taking a few steps behind the arc and hitting the tie-breaking three-pointer.
Minnesota had no real chance to tie it at the buzzer.
Las Liberty they have appeared in the finals five times before, including last season, and lost each time.
Trailing 73-69 with 2:26 left in the fourth quarter, the Liberty scored eight straight points, including the first five from Jonquel Jones. Ionescu, who had a relatively calm game, scored another triple after a miss by the Lynx to make the score 77-73 with 55.5 left.
Bridget Carleton pulled the Lynx within 77-75 with a layup 21 seconds later. On New York’s next possession, Ionescu hit a 3-pointer that went to the middle of the basket before coming out and Minnesota got the rebound. Napheesa Collier was fouled with 16 seconds left and made both free throws to tie the score, setting up the exciting finish.
Collier finished with 22 points and Kayla McBride 19 for Minnesota.
