Sabrina Ionescu hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer from the top of the bracket with 1 second left and Breanna Stewart scored 30 points to help the New York Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx 80-77 on Wednesday, 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 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 stopping a few steps behind the goal and scoring the tie-breaking three-pointer.
Minnesota didn't have a real chance to tie it at the buzzer.
The Liberty have appeared in the ultimate five times before, including last season, and lost all of them.
Trailing 73-69 with 2:26 left in the fourth quarter, Liberty scored eight straight points, including the first five from Jonquel Jones. Ionescu, who had a relatively quiet game, then hit another 3-pointer after a Lynx miss 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 midway through the basket before breaking out and Minnesota got the rebound. Napheesa Collier was then fouled with 16 seconds left and made both free throws to tie the score and set up the exciting ultimate.
Collier finished with 22 points and Kayla McBride 19 for Minnesota.
WATCH Liberty evens WNBA Finals, winning Game 2:
New York beats Minnesota 80-66 in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals to tie their best-of-five series at 1-1. Breanna Stewart records a game-high 21 points, a WNBA Finals record with seven steals, eight rebounds, five assists and a blocked shot. Chatham, Ontario native Bridget Carleton finishes with 8 points, four rebounds and three assists for the Lynx.
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