Star’s epic 3-pointer caps comeback as Liberty move to brink of title

MINNEAPOLIS — The New York Liberty are one win away from their first WNBA title. 

Behind 22 second-half points from Breanna Stewart, and two huge 3s in the final 56 seconds from Sabrina Ionescu, the Liberty came back from 15 points down to beat the Lynx 80-77 Wednesday in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at the Target Center. 

New York now leads the best-of-five series 2-1. Game 4 is Friday in Minneapolis. If the Lynx force a Game 5, the series would go back to New York for the finale. 

After the Lynx led for almost the entire game New York took its first lead since 5-2 when Ionescu drove and threaded a nifty pass to Jonquel Jones, who scored an easy layup. Minnesota’s attempt missed at the other end and then Ionescu again came up big, draining a 3 with 55.6 seconds to play to push the lead to two possessions. 

But she was just getting warmed up. 

After Bridget Carleton muscled through the defense for a layup and Napheesa Collier hit two free throws it was tied 77-77 with 16 seconds to play. The Lynx had a foul to give, which set up another New York possession with 10.9 seconds left. After the ball was inbounded, Ionescu took a couple dribbles at the top of the key, then pulled up and nailed a deep 3 from roughly 30 feet to win the game. Minnesota couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer at the other end. 

Ionescu finished with 13 points. Stewart had 30 and 11 rebounds. Collier led Minnesota with 22 points, but it took her 22 shots to get there. Kayla McBride chipped in 19.