Sabrina Ionescu delivered a dramatic game-winning three-pointer from near the center-court logo, sealing an 80-77 victory for the New York Liberty over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. With just one second left on the clock and the score tied at 77, Ionescu launched the 28-foot shot with a defender in her face, stunning the crowd of 19,521 at Minnesota’s Target Center.
Ionescu’s clutch basket capped a thrilling comeback for the Liberty, who erased a 15-point deficit to secure their second consecutive win in the series. “It was just a matter of staying focused and believing in our ability to come back,” Ionescu said after the game. “I saw an opening and took the shot.”
Breanna Stewart, Liberty’s star player, spearheaded the comeback with an impressive 30 points and 11 rebounds. Despite not having her best performance earlier in the series, Stewart played a crucial role in helping New York stay alive, alongside Ionescu’s heroics. “We’ve fought hard to get to this point, and now we’re one win away,” said Stewart, who is still chasing her first WNBA title.
The Lynx, led by Napheesa Collier’s 22 points and nine rebounds, fought valiantly but couldn’t hold off New York’s late surge. Kayla McBride added 19 points, while Courtney Williams and Bridget Carleton chipped in with 12 and 14 points, respectively. “We had control, but it slipped away,” Collier admitted. “We have to regroup and be ready for the next one.”
New York now heads into Game 4 on Friday night with the chance to clinch the WNBA championship, riding the momentum of back-to-back comeback wins. This marks the first time in WNBA Finals history that both teams have overcome 15-point deficits in a series, with Minnesota rallying from 18 points down to win Game 1 in overtime before New York responded with their own turnaround in Games 2 and 3.
Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Leonie Fiebich each contributed 13 points in the victory, as the Liberty move within one win of their first WNBA title.
