WNBA Finals highlights: Sabrina Ionescu, Liberty complete rally to beat Lynx in Game 3
Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty take a 2-1 series lead in the WNBA Finals, following an 80-77 victory over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 from Minneapolis on Wednesday
This series is a tale of two franchises on polar opposites in their histories. The Liberty still are looking for that elusive first championship. Meanwhile, the Lynx could very well cap off what would be the organization's fifth WNBA title.
Napheesa Collier entered the game leading the Lynx, averaging 25.2 points through the postseason. Collier dropped 21 points on 62.5% shooting in the series opener and then went 7-for-12 in a Game 2 loss to the Liberty on Sunday.
Sabrina Ionescu entered Game 3, averaging 19.8 points through the playoffs. In Game 2, it was all about Breanna Stewart and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who scored 21 and 20, respectively, in an 80-66 win on Sunday.
Here is everything you need to know about Game 3 between the Lynx and Liberty.
FINAL: Liberty 80, Lynx 77
Sabrina Ionescu nails a 28-foot three-point shot to complete the 15-point comeback and give the New York Liberty the 2-1 series lead in the WNBA Finals against the Lynx.
Liberty retake the lead
Liberty leads Lynx 77-73 with 55.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Jonquel Jones made a layup off an assist from Sabrina Ionescu to take the 74-73 lead. Ionescu increased the lead to 77-73 with a 24-foot three-pointer.
Leonie Fiebich injured
It's a physical game, that's for sure -- and that's exactly why Leonie Fiebich is down on the ground with 5:01 to play after getting flattened by a solid screen from Myisha Hines-Allen.
Fiebich was on the floor for a few minutes clutching her stomach, but she got up and walked off on her own power. She's played well this game (13 points and three rebounds). Hopefully, she'll be able to return in a bit. Her late-game experience -- and her defensive length -- is huge for the Liberty. — Lindsay Schnell
Liberty has tied the game with Lynx
Breanna Stewart continues to lead the Liberty's rally down the stretch of the game. Stewart made a 14-foot jumper as Alanna Smith fouled her. Stewart made her single free throw to tie the game at 69. She has 30 points tonight with 6:06 left in the fourth quarter.
End of 3rd: Lynx 62, Liberty 61
Breanna Stewart and the Liberty rallied to end the third quarter trailing by one point against the Lynx. Stewart had 14 of her 22 points in the third period as New York outscored Minnesota 26-19.
Alanna Smith returns to the bench
Alanna Smith returns from the Lynx's locker room with 3:45 left in the third quarter. She had left the game late in the second quarter with a back injury. Her status for the rest of the game has not been disclosed.
Liberty tries to close the gap
New York brought the game within six points before Napheesa Collier made a 25-foot three-point shot to increase the lead.
HALFTIME: Lynx 43, Liberty 35
Lynx looking strong in the first half at home, taking an 8-point lead back to the locker room.
Kayla McBride had 13 points in the first half for the Lynx. After two-quarters of play, McBride made 5 of her 10 shots, including three for five from the 3-point line.
Bridget Carleton contributed with 10 points and three defensive rebounds for Minnesota.
Leonie Fiebich led the Liberty with 10 points and three defensive rebounds. Breanna Stewart added eight points and four rebounds but has turned the ball over three times.
Alanna Smith injured
Bad news for Minnesota: Alanna Smith looks hurt.
After taking a hard fall defending Jonquel Jones in the paint with 2:52 to play in the second quarter, Smith walked to the bench with tears in her eyes and clutching her lower back. She landed square on her back — and got a foul called on her — and Jones is very strong, so she likely fell very hard, too. It was her third foul of the game.
Smith is one of the best, most underappreciated defenders in the WNBA, and she’s guarded Jones particularly well in this series. Hopefully, she’s OK.
Update: She's not on the floor as Minnesota goes back on the floor. — Lindsay Schnell
Sabrina Ionescu continues to contribute
Sabrina Ionescu hasn't attempted a shot for the Liberty but has managed to contribute through the early part of the game. She had two assists, two defensive rebounds and a block with 5:41 left in the second quarter.
Bridget Carleton, Lynx lead Liberty 28-18
Bridget Carleton has had a quiet series for the Lynx so far, but if Minnesota is going to win its fifth title, they need the sixth-year forward to play well.
So far, she is. Carleton already has seven points on 3-of-5 shooting. That bodes well for Minnesota given that Carleton has been averaging just 6.5 points per game this series.
She had some sweet shooter’s touch too. — Lindsay Schnell
Kayla McBride leads Lynx's scoring attack early
Kayla McBride led the scoring again for the Lynx down on the other side of the court, taking a 14-5 lead against the Liberty with 6:57 left in the first quarter. Liberty took a timeout to try and stop New York's momentum.
Leonie Fiebich scores first points of the game
Leonie Fiebich scores the first points of the game with a 4-foot two-point shot off an assist from Jonquel Jones. Fiebich added to the Liberty's early 5-2 lead with a 3-pointer from 22 feet.
From sixth pick to 'superstar': The evolution of Minnesota forward Napheesa Collier
Players to watch for WNBA Finals
Forward Napheesa Collier leads the Lynx with 20.4 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game. She is shooting 80.4% from the free-throw line.
Forward Breanna Stewart leads the Liberty with 20.4 points per game while shooting 45.8% from the field and 84.5% from the free-throw line.
Liberty vs. Lynx: When is Game 3 of the WNBA Finals?
Game 3 of the WNBA championship series between the Liberty and Lynx is Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Liberty vs. Lynx: How to watch Game 3 of the WNBA Finals
Game 3 will be broadcast on ESPN with Ryan Ruocco (play-by-play), Rebecca Lobo (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline reporter) on the call.
Catch the WNBA Finals with a Fubo subscription
Liberty vs. Lynx odds, line
The New York Liberty are favorites to defeat the Minnesota Lynx in Wednesday's WNBA Finals matchup, according to the BetMGM odds. Looking to wager? Check out the top betting apps in 2024 offering the top betting promos and bonuses in 2024.
- Spread: Liberty (-3.5)
- Moneyline: Liberty (-185); Lynx (+150)
- Over/under: 160.5
Who is playing in the WNBA Finals?
The New York Liberty bring their 32-8 season into Minnesota to take on the four-time champion Lynx. A title here would mark the Liberty's first championship.
2024 WNBA Finals bracket, schedule and results
Best-of-5; All times Eastern
Thursday, Oct. 10
- Game 1: Minnesota Lynx 95, New York Liberty 93, FINAL
Sunday, Oct. 13
- Game 2: New York Liberty 80, Minnesota Lynx 66, FINAL
Wednesday, Oct. 16
- Game 3: New York Liberty at Minnesota Lynx, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Friday, Oct. 18
- Game 4: New York Liberty at Minnesota Lynx, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Monday, Oct. 21
- Game 5: Minnesota Lynx at New York Liberty, TBD (if necessary)
2024 WNBA playoffs: Semifinals scores and results
All times Eastern
Sunday, Sept. 29
- Game 1: New York 87, Las Vegas 77, Liberty lead series 1-0
- Game 1: Connecticut 73, Minnesota 70, Sun lead series 1-0
Tuesday, Oct. 1
- Game 2: New York 88, Las Vegas 84, Liberty leads series 2-0
- Game 2: Minnesota 77, Connecticut 70, Series tied 1-1
Friday, Oct. 4
- Game 3: Minnesota 90, Connecticut 81, Lynx leads series 2-1
- Game 3: New York 81, Las Vegas 95, Liberty leads series 2-1
Sunday, Oct. 6
- Game 4: New York 76, Las Vegas 62, Liberty wins series 3-1
- Game 4: Connecticut 92, Minnesota 82, Series tied 2-2
Tuesday, Oct. 8
- Game 5: Minnesota 88, Connecticut 77 Lynx win series
How to watch the 2024 WNBA Finals with streaming
The 2024 WNBA Finals series will be broadcast across ABC or ESPN, depending on the game. Streaming options for the series will be on Fubo, Sling and the WNBA League Pass.
New York Liberty lineup
Breanna Stewart
Sabrina Ionescu
Jonquel Jones
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton
Leonie Fiebich
Minnesota Lynx lineup
Napheesa Collier
Kayla McBride
Alanna Smith
Bridget Carleton
Courtney Williams
WNBA follows magical season with must-see WNBA Finals
Paste BN's Nancy Armour writes that the WNBA is following a remarkably successful season with a final that you couldn't write up any better.
"This has been a transformative season for the W. After steady growth the last few seasons, Clark’s arrival supercharged interest in the league. Ratings on the ESPN platforms for the regular season were up 170%, and the 27 games – so far – with a million or more viewers is almost double the previous best. Attendance was up 48%, and the 154 sellouts represented a 242% increase from last year. Sponsors are clamoring for a piece of the action." — Nancy Armour
WNBA Finals format: Moving to Seven Games
As was reported ahead of Game 1, the WNBA is going to give us more of a good thing. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the Finals will move from a best-of five clash to a best-of-seven game series.
WNBA Finals ratings
According to Sports Business Journal's Austin Karp, the WNBA Finals continue to show an increase in interest and viewership. The 1.3 million viewers that tuned into Game 2 marks the best WNBA Finals game on ABC. Game 2 of the series aired simultaneously with the NFL’s Week 6 slate.
According to ESPN PR, the Game 2 viewership peaked with 1.82 million viewers and saw a +115% increase compared to Game 2 of the 2023 WNBA Finals on ESPN.
2024 All-WNBA Teams
The league announced its first and second All-WNBA teams on Wednesday.
First team:
Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
A'Ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun
Second team:
Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury
Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm
Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings
Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty
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