New York’s star power hadn’t mattered much to date in matchups this season against the Lynx.
In the majority of matchups between the two squads in 2024, Minnesota bested the Liberty by out-executing New York on both ends of the floor, generating better shots on offense and setting the tone with its defense.
That’s why the Lynx — who didn’t possess the name notoriety of New York — was consistently able to best the Liberty.
But in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night in Minneapolis, in at least this instance, star power indeed mattered.
Because when push came to shove, it was New York’s big-time players making all the big plays in the timely moments. Whether that was Jonquel Jones or Sabrina Ionescu drilling key triples in the game’s closing minutes or Breanna Stewart looking like the best player on the floor, the Liberty’s Big 3 got their team across the finish line en route to a 80-77 victory at Target Center.
It was Ionescu who delivered the dagger. With the game tied at 80-80 and the final ticks counting down, the point guard drilled a deep 3-pointer to put New York in front with one second to play. Kayla McBride’s desperation attempt at the horn wasn’t close, and the Liberty were the victors.
New York now leads the best-of-five Finals two games to one. Game 4 is in Minnesota on Friday. And Minnesota’s back is now firmly planted against the wall.
How did the Lynx end up in this spot after taking Game 1 of the series and leading Game 3 by as many as 15 points at home in front of a sellout crowd?
The offense dried up again.
Minnesota went 5 for 18 from the field in the final frame. The Lynx were 14 for 40 in the paint for the game.
Down the stretch, Myisha Hines-Allen and Kayla McBride missed multiple point blank looks around the rim that would’ve given a stalled offense that boost it needed to perhaps pull the game out. Those misses were a stark contrast to the bombs the Liberty were hitting on the other end. New York’s big-named standouts looked more comfortable and confident with the ball in their hands and the game on the line.
That isn’t always true — it certainly wasn’t in Game 1. But much has changed since then.
Stewart was played off the court by Napheesa Collier over the final 10-plus minutes of Game 1. That was a key factor in Minnesota’s thrilling come-from-behind victory to kick off the series.
On that night, Stewart looked as though she had no answer for Minnesota’s physicality. Collier looked like two times the player as Stewart, a past Finals and league MVP who appeared, on that night, to no longer be in that tier as a player.
She proved otherwise on Wednesday at Target Center. In a raucous environment in downtown Minneapolis, an unfazed Stewart was the best player on the floor. The forward almost singlehandily kept the Liberty in the game after Minnesota raced out to an early advantage.
Then, when it mattered most, she received timely help from her high-powered sidekicks.
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