Liberty Stuns Lynx to Even WNBA Finals
NEW YORK – The New York Liberty bounced back dramatically Sunday, toppling the Minnesota Lynx 80-66 to tie the WNBA Finals at one game apiece.
A raucous sellout crowd of 18,046 packed Barclays Center to witness the Liberty’s pivotal Game 2 victory. The win erased memories of a heartbreaking Game 1 loss and shifted momentum as the series heads to Minnesota.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton fueled New York’s resurgence, matching her season high with 20 points. The versatile forward showed no signs of the knee issues that hampered her late in the regular season.
“I felt great out there today,” Laney-Hamilton said. “My teammates kept finding me in good spots, and I just tried to stay aggressive.”
League MVP Breanna Stewart also rebounded from a subpar Game 1, pouring in 21 points with eight rebounds and a Finals-record 7 steals. Stewart’s two-way dominance helped New York build an early lead and fend off Minnesota’s late rally.
“We knew how crucial this game was,” Stewart said. “I wanted to set the tone on both ends and give us a spark.”
The Liberty seized control early, racing out to a 31-21 advantage after one quarter behind Sabrina Ionescu’s hot shooting. New York extended the lead to 15 in the second before Minnesota closed the gap to 10 at halftime.
As they did in Game 1, the Lynx mounted a furious second-half comeback. Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams spearheaded the charge, combining for 31 points to bring Minnesota within striking distance.
A Williams layup trimmed New York’s lead to 68-66 with just 3:40 remaining, sending a nervous buzz through the Barclays crowd. But the Liberty responded emphatically, reeling off 12 unanswered points to seal the victory.
Laney-Hamilton buried a clutch three-pointer to spark the game-ending run. Stewart then took over, notching a putback basket and harassing Minnesota’s offense into repeated turnovers.
“We learned our lesson from Game 1,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. “When they made their push, we stayed poised and executed down the stretch.”
The win helps New York avoid the daunting prospect of an 0-2 series deficit. No team in WNBA history has ever overcome that hole to win the Finals.
The loss squanders Minnesota’s golden opportunity to take complete control of the series. The Lynx still hold home-court advantage, and the scene shifts to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Wednesday.
“We’re disappointed but not discouraged,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. “We showed a lot of fight to get back in it. We need to start faster and finish stronger next game.”
Collier paced Minnesota with 16 points, while Williams chipped in 15. But the Lynx struggled to contain New York’s multi-faceted attack, allowing four Liberty players to reach double figures.
Ionescu rounded out New York’s balanced offense with 15 points and six assists. Her playmaking helped the Liberty record 21 assists on 31 made baskets.
“When we’re moving the ball like that, we’re tough to stop,” Ionescu said. “Everyone was touching it and making plays for each other.”
The raucous Barclays Center crowd played a crucial role in New York’s win. Celebrities like Jennifer Hudson and Katie Couric joined diehard fans in creating a loud home-court advantage.
“Our fans were incredible,” Stewart said. “The energy in this building is next-level. We feed off that, pushing us to dig deeper into tough moments.”
As the series shifts to Minnesota, both teams face crucial adjustments. The Lynx must find ways to slow New York’s offensive juggernaut. Meanwhile, the Liberty aims to replicate their suffocating late-game defense from Sunday.
With the Finals now guaranteed to return to Brooklyn, New York has reclaimed momentum in this back-and-forth battle. But Minnesota’s resilience ensures this series is far from over.
“We took their best punch today,” Williams said. “Now it’s our turn to counterpunch on our home floor. This thing is just getting started.”
Game 3 tips off Wednesday at 8 PM ET from Target Center in Minneapolis. With the series deadlocked, it could be a turning point in this clash of WNBA titans.
One thing is sure—if the first two games are any indication, fans are in for a Finals classic as these evenly-matched squads continue to trade blows.