Liberty 92, Sun 81 (2-1): Now what?
A record-setting opening frame has the Liberty one win away from the WNBA Finals
Going into last night’s Game 3 of their series against the Connecticut Sun, the New York Liberty had played six straight homes games, bringing home four wins in that span. Mix in one loss against the Mystics to end the regular season and one heartbreaker loss against the Sun to begin this round. Something needed to change.
The vibe is different on any away trip. The Liberty needed to get out of New York. Good thing they did, with the flooding that kept many city residents at home Friday night. Head coach Sandy Brondello noted that their home stint was bittersweet. The sweetness comes in thousands, as Liberty fans roll into Barclays in groups and cheer in tandem. The Timeless Torches and the literal torch that’s lit pregame are great, but even pro teams get cabin fever.
In Uncasville, the Liberty looked rhythmic. They won the tip and scored in what’s become typical Liberty fashion: dribble penetration by veteran Betnijah Laney (if we can call someone under 30 such a thing) and kick-out to Sabrina Ionescu for three. Splash. The orange-clad fans didn’t have much ammo at that point, but there persisted many sparks to the Sun’s fire throughout the game. The Liberty tied a WNBA playoff record with a 37-point first quarter. The Sun? 16. That paved the way for a 92-81 win and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5.
On Tuesday, Breanna Stewart was named WNBA MVP, ahead iof Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas. “No discredit to Stewie,” Thomas’ teammate DeWonna Bonner said. “But what Alyssa did this season was unbelievable.” AT has notched many accolades this season, perhaps most remarkably what she’s been able to do in this playoff run for Connecticut: lock Stewie up while facilitating the offense, game in and game out. Thomas played 197 consecutive minutes until finally exiting in the fourth quarter, the longest streak in WNBA history. This postseason, she’s put up 18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 10.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, numbers that over the regular season would have ranked ninth, 13th, first and tied for fifth in the league.
Last night, she asked her teammates for help. AT has been fuel for her team and its fans the entire season, her one-hand shot a marvel sure to get the crowd off their feet. She finished with 23, helped out by Tiffany Hayes’s 16 and Olivia Nelson-Ododa’s 14. With Rebecca Allen out with a non-COVID illness, a big loss for the Sun, Nelson-Ododa got the start and picked up most of her points early.
As for the Liberty, Stewie was back to MVP-caliber, notching 25 and 11 to lead her team to the victory. “Bucket B” Laney finished with 20, eight rebounds and four assists. For a player as defensively dominant as Laney, her offense, quick release, strength down low and calm handles make her a weapon when teams are worried about the likes of Sab, Stewie, Jonquel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot. Speaking of Sab, she finished with 16, and thanks to some high screens connected with the 3-ball three times in that historic opening quarter, including the splash to kick things off.
So now what? The Liberty have a chance to advance to the Finals for the first time since 2002, a fact I’m sure you’ve heard thrown around WNBA discussions. Less often heard is how imperfect this Liberty squad is. On paper, their route to this moment has been smooth sailing because of their monster squad. However, the patience and grit they’ve shown in the face of imperfection, mistakes and losses has been what’s made them an Avengers-like superteam. They haven’t let poor play hold them back from the next play, the Holy Grail for coaches across the globe. Instead, they’ve committed to their team, focusing on one game at a time.
I guess it’s time to answer “Now what?” Now the Liberty need to rest, and prepare for a fully healthy Sun squad (by this year’s standards; they’ve missed Brionna Jones since she tore her Achilles in June) and a rabid Sun crowd. A healthy Connecticut means in-your-face, relentless defense sure to challenge even the best players in the league. Plus, if the Sun put on a show from deep, giving the Liberty a taste of their own medicine, efficiency and quality shots will become even more important. For you, the fan and spectator, prepare for even more of a fight. Teams live for these moments, one day out from booking flights to play Las Vegas. Whatever isn’t clicking is refined, weaknesses are worked and strengths are given the greenest of Green Lights. This is the playoffs. Enjoy.
