New York Liberty

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu revealed that she will be shooting from the NBA three-point line during the first-ever NBA vs. WNBA three-point challenge, which will feature her competing against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry.

Sabrina Ionescu reveals that she will be shooting from the NBA 3-point line during tonight's competition vs. Steph 🗣️#NBAAllStarMediaDay presented by @ATT

The first-ever NBA vs. WNBA 3-point challenge will take place during #StateFarmSaturday, tonight at 8pm/et on TNT. pic.twitter.com/e1V6DJtS4y

— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2024

Ionescu, a two-time WNBA All-Star, owns the record for most points scored (37) in one round in the WNBA three-point contest. Ionescu, who could have scored a maximum of 40 points, owns the all-time scoring record for a three-point challenge in either the NBA or WNBA.

Her contest with Curry is slated for Saturday night in Indianapolis.

Ionescu was originally slated to shoot from the WNBA line (22 feet and 1.75 inches). Now she'll take a few steps back for the NBA line (23 feet and nine inches), shooting with WNBA basketballs.

The contest will follow the same format as the 3-Point contest, except this will be one round. The backbone of the competition is around the arc, where five racks of five balls apiece will be placed. The final ball on each rack is a "money ball" worth two points. Every other shot is one point.

Then there are two "Starry" range shots from 29 feet and nine inches away. Those are worth three points apiece.

Curry and Ionescu will have 70 seconds to take their 27 shot attempts. Each made shot also results in donations to their foundations:

"As part of the competition, Curry's Eat.Learn.Play. nonprofit and Ionescu's SI20 Foundation will receive a donation from the NBA and WNBA. In addition, each shot made by Curry and Ionescu will trigger a donation from State Farm to the NBA Foundation to support economic empowerment in the Black community. Each regular 3-pointer made will be valued at $1,000, the money ball at $2,000 and the "STARRY Range Ball" – a deep 3-pointer from 29 feet, 9 inches away – at $3,000."

Steph vs. Sabrina will be among other competitions on NBA All-Star Saturday Night, including the NBA 3-Point Contest, the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and the Skills Challenge.

After helping the New York Liberty reach the WNBA Finals last season, Jonquel Jones is going to run it back with the Eastern Conference champs.

The Liberty announced on Friday they have signed Jones to a new contract in free agency.

Signed, sealed, delivered and officially official ✍️ The NY Liberty have re-signed Jonquel Jones. Let the countdown to #SEAFOAMSZN begin 🙌 #LIGHTITUPNYL pic.twitter.com/61yawdiyqb

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) February 16, 2024

Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb issued a statement about bringing Jones back in 2024:

“We are overjoyed to welcome back JJ,” said GM Jonathan Kolb. “In just 1 season, she became an indelible part of the Liberty’s core identity, on & off-the-court, and keeping her in seafoam was our first priority in open free agency as we continue our championship pursuit in 2024 https://t.co/9a5yyXz3fQ

— The Local W (@TheLocalW) February 16, 2024

Jones was traded to the Liberty last offseason after requesting a deal from the Connecticut Sun.

The George Washington alum spent the first six years of her career with the Sun. She was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016, but her rights were acquired by Connecticut as part of the Chelsea Gray trade.

Jones had a stellar run with Connecticut, including winning Most Improve Player in 2017, Sixth Woman of the Year in 2018 and WNBA MVP in 2021. She was also a four-time All-Star during that period.

In her first season with the Liberty, Jones ranked fourth on the team in scoring average (11.3 points per game) and second in rebounding (8.3). She started all 50 games between the regular season and playoffs.

The Liberty finished second in the regular-season standings with a 32-8 record, trailing only the Las Vegas Aces (34-6). Those two teams met in the WNBA Finals, with the Aces winning in four games.

It was New York's first appearance in the Finals since 2002 and fifth all-time. The franchise has yet to win a championship.

Bringing Jones back keeps the Liberty's starting five from last season intact. The reigning Eastern Conference champs will tipoff the 2024 campaign on May 14 against the Washington Mystics.

An exciting competition is coming to NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis next month.

Golden State Warriors star point guard Stephen Curry and New York Liberty star point guard Sabrina Ionescu will participate in a three-point shootout that will surely produce fireworks.

The one-on-one challenge will take place after the league's three-point contest Feb. 17 and will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the Indianapolis Colts.

According to the rules provided by the NBA, Curry will shoot from the NBA three-point line with NBA basketballs, while Ionescu will shoot from the WNBA three-point line with WNBA basketballs.

FORMAT pic.twitter.com/DHKgGUuFR3

— NBA (@NBA) January 30, 2024

I’ll shoot from the NBA line… LETS GET IT!!!!!!! https://t.co/LmQEbMe4S5

— Sabrina Ionescu (@sabrina_i20) January 30, 2024

On Jan. 25, Curry hinted at the possibility of going up against Ionescu when he was mic'd up during the pregame for a matchup against the Sacramento Kings:

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1750722997285961875

Ionescu won the 2023 WNBA three-point contest with an astonishing performance in which she made 25 of her 27 attempts and finished with 37 points, the most in WNBA or NBA history.

Sabrina Ionescu (@sabrina_i20) just set the all-time record for NBA or WNBA with a score of 37 PTS in the FINAL ROUND of the #Starry3PT Contest to be crowned the NEW 3-PT CHAMPION 🏆 | @starrylemonlime pic.twitter.com/YcGy3fDfBq

— WNBA (@WNBA) July 14, 2023

Curry set the previous mark of 31 points when he won the NBA three-point shootout for the second time in 2021. His first win came in 2015, which was also the year of his first NBA championship with the Warriors.

Ionescu first suggested an intergender three-point contest after her win last summer:

Shoot out??😂 @StephenCurry30

— Sabrina Ionescu (@sabrina_i20) July 15, 2023

Curry didn't take long to accept her challenge:

.@StephenCurry30 says he and @sabrina_i20 need to settle who's the best three-point competition shooter 👀

"I gotta go after Sabrina's record ... She went crazy with the 37 PTS in their All-Star weekend." pic.twitter.com/s8iNjyQy0e

— ESPN (@espn) July 17, 2023

Of course, this will mark the first time that a WNBA player participates in a three-point contest against an NBA player. WNBA stars have routinely participated in NBA All-Star Weekend in the past, usually as part of the celebrity game and the shooting stars competition.

Curry was not voted as a starter for the Western Conference in this year's All-Star Game, but it's expected that he will earn his 10th career selection. If he is selected, it will mark the first time he will play in the game as a reserve.

However, Curry will have all eyes on him when he goes one-on-one with Ionescu in their highly anticipated showdown.

USA Basketball is one step closer to deciding which women's basketball players will represent the nation in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

On Thursday, USA Basketball named 16 players to the Women's National Team roster for November training camp.

The November 2023 🇺🇸 #USABWNT roster is here!

16 athletes, including seven Olympians, will participate in the Nov. 7-9 training camp in Atlanta.

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) October 26, 2023

The roster includes Phoenix Mercury stars Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi, New York Liberty guards Sabrina Ionescu and Betnijah Laney and longtime Atlanta Dream star Angel McCoughtry.

The team is rounded out by Kahleah Copper, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Azurá Stevens, Ariel Atkins, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Aliyah Boston, Dearica Hamby, Natasha Howard and Arike Ogunbowale.

Seven members of the roster, including Taurasi, Griner and McCoughtry, boast past Olympic experience.

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve will lead training camp in Atlanta from November 7-9.

The training camp will be bookended by a pair of exhibition games against college basketball teams. These contests will be held against Tennessee on November 5 and Duke on November 12.

Taurasi, Ionescu and Griner are among the players who will be featured on the rosters of both games.

Other participants in both exhibition contests will be Copper, Gray, Howard and Stevens.

Boston, Atkins, Laney and Young will play against Tennessee, while Hamby, Howard, Ogunbowale and Plum will swap in for the contest against Duke.

McCoughtry will not be featured in the exhibition games but will participate in training camp.

Official team rosters for our USA Basketball Exhibition game on November 12!

Thoughts?? 👀 pic.twitter.com/A2BQXo1ICb

— Duke Women’s Basketball (@DukeWBB) October 26, 2023

The November 5 exhibition game will mark Griner's first time playing for Team USA since she was detained in Russia for most of 2022.

The two contests will also mark the first basketball action for Young and Plum since they celebrated their 2023 WNBA championship win with the Las Vegas Aces.

The next step in USA Basketball's Olympic preparation will be the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament from February 8-11.

As the winner of the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup, Team USA has already guaranteed its spot in the Paris Olympics alongside host France. Ionescu, Atkins, Copper, Laney and Plum are among the players on the roster of that World Cup winning team who will be returning for training camp.

The Las Vegas Aces' victory in the 2023 WNBA Finals does not mean the end of the New York Liberty's hopes of winning a title with Breanna Stewart.

General manager Jonathan Kolb said Friday the team plans to designate Stewart a core player, allowing the franchise exclusive negotiating rights with the two-time MVP this offseason.

"She will not be an unrestricted free agent," Kolb said, per The Athletic's Ben Pickman.

Her Hoops Stats' Richard Cohen compared the WNBA core player designation to the NFL's franchise tag system. Each WNBA team can core one player headed for free agency, and once cored the player cannot sign directly with any other team.

Stewart had never before received the designation in six seasons and two championships with the Seattle Storm.

She led the Liberty with 23.0 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in the regular season after signing a one-year deal in New York in February.

During the regular season, she set a new regular-season for points scored in a single season by breaking Diana Taurasi's 2006 record (860) with 920 points.

Stewart was once again the team's leading scorer in the playoffs, where she averaged a double-double of 18.4 points and 10.2 rebounds.

That production helped lead the Liberty to the best regular-season win percentage (.800) in franchise history, as well as the team's first trip to the Finals since 2002.

Repeating those achievements might be more challenging in 2024, even if Stewart is guaranteed to remain on the roster.

The Liberty are unable to lock in another former MVP in Jonquel Jones, who cannot be labeled the team's core player because she has already played two seasons under the designation, per ESPN's Alexa Philippou.

Jones will head into this winter as an unrestricted free agent, although she said Friday she is "definitely trending toward coming back" to New York, per Winsidr's Myles Ehrlich.

The WNBA's one-year supermax deal in 2023 was worth approximately $234,000. If the Liberty offer that much to Stewart, the team will have about $466,000 remaining in cap space to build another Finals-caliber team around Stewart, 2020 No. 1 pick Sabrina Ionescu, Courtney Vandersloot, Betnijah Laney and Kayla Thornton, per Yahoo Sports' Cassandra Negley.

That leaves enough space to sign Jones, if the Liberty can convince her another year of Stewart is worth sticking around for.

No WNBA team has ever recovered from a 2-0 playoff series deficit.

The New York Liberty is trying to change that.

Jonquel Jones' big game (27 points, eight rebounds and three blocks), a double-double from Breanna Stewart and a clutch three from Sabrina Ionescu helped Liberty fend off a late push from the Aces and secure an 87-73 Game 3 win Sunday.

The Aces lead the Finals series 2-1.

Unlike Vegas' 28-point rout of the Liberty in Game 2, Game 3 came down to a nail-biting final five minutes as the New York squad struggled to hold onto the lead.

The home crowd was visibly nervous in the final quarter as the Aces cut the Liberty's 12-point lead in half.

God Bless New York Liberty fans because I would be sick watching these last 5mins

— Ashley_ (@All_N_Yo_Tweets) October 15, 2023

Games 1 and 3 of Aces--Liberty might be the most fiercely competitive WNBA action I've ever seen.

— brittrobson (@brittrobson) October 15, 2023

Stewart made a critical jumper with just over four minutes remaining to turn momentum the Liberty's way with just over four minutes remaining.

She finished the afternoon with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

TURNAROUND JUMPER FROM BREANNA STEWART 👏 pic.twitter.com/thQR6xDYDg

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 15, 2023

Breanna Stewart what a big, big shot. Much needed for the Liberty.

— ቶማስ ካሳሁን 🇪🇹✊🏾 (@TomasKassahun) October 15, 2023

Breanna Stewart is A BUCKET

— Shan Thompson (@Shanwittheplan) October 15, 2023

that Breanna Stewart shot just felt like a dagger, i can’t lie

— Deimos ☄️ (@trvgedyy) October 15, 2023

Breanna Stewart just destroyed that turnaround j

— Jimmy Lemke (@JimmyLemke) October 15, 2023

https://twitter.com/EhranHodes/status/1713660089377440020

Breanna Stewart is putting on an MVP performance

— Real Talk With MJ Podcast (@RealTalkWithMJ1) October 15, 2023

Sabrina Ionescu recorded 11 assists in the victory for the second 10-assist playoff game of her career and the fifth-most assists ever scored in a WNBA Finals game.

She also extended the Liberty's lead to 15 with a 26-foot jumper late in the final two minutes.

.@sabrina_i20 gets in on the 3-PT action and New York is lovingggg it ‼

📺 ABC | #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/0WJOzFFQZ0

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 15, 2023

You have not experienced a deep Sabrina Ionescu 3 until you've experienced it in a 17,000-strong Barclays Center.

— Cassandra Negley (@CasNegley) October 15, 2023

Sabrina Ionescu is the only Liberty starter who didn't reach double-figures today, but that seems fitting. Her defense was as good as its been all year, and she dished out 11 assists today with a greater share of on-ball responsibilities.

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) October 15, 2023

Sabrina Ionescu comes up with a clutch 3!!

— ₱Ɽł₥Ø 🥷🏾 (@PrimoDaRebel) October 15, 2023

Laney and Ionescu have such pretty jumpers

— Mek (@mekhibaclig) October 15, 2023

Sabrina Ionescu is the truth

— Yannis (@Yannis_LB) October 15, 2023

A'ja Wilson double-doubled with 16 points and 11 rebounds in the Aces' loss, while Kelsey Plum led Vegas with 29 points.

The team will now wait for an update on 2022 Finals MVP Chelsea Gray, who left early with an apparent leg injury.

I hope Chelsea Gray's injury isn't serious because if it is, that changes the series. Prayers up for the point God.

— Esta Morenikeji (@EstaMorenikeji) October 15, 2023

https://twitter.com/crinamm/status/1713666186599157910

If Chelsea Gray is out it will undoubtedly change this series.

— Janaé Sims (@auntienae95) October 15, 2023

Just saw how Chelsea Gray got injured. I pray it isn't as bad as it looked or as she said. This series looks COMPLETELY different without her on the floor for Vegas

— Isaiah Bragg (@4MrBragg) October 15, 2023

Honestly, IF the Liberty come back to win this series, it's not because the Aces played terribly... it'll be because of the possibility of losing Chelsea Gray.

— ali 🖤 (@alithesportsfan) October 15, 2023

Status of Chelsea Gray remains a huge concern.

Her impact on the Aces do offensively is tremendous.

— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) October 15, 2023

Jones, Stewart, Ionescu and the Liberty will fight to tie the series at two games apiece when the Aces return to Barclays Center Wednesday for Game 4.

WNBA fans are getting the Finals matchup they've wanted all season.

The New York Liberty beat the Connecticut Sun 87-84 on Sunday in Game 4 of the semifinals to advance to the WNBA Finals, where they'll meet the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces.

The Sun jumped on the Liberty early and built a 10-point lead midway through the second quarter. New York proceeded to show why having two league MVPs on your roster can be beneficial in the postseason.

Jonquel Jones had a double-double (25 points and 15 rebounds), while Breanna Stewart dropped a game-high 27 points along with nine boards. Time and again the fourth quarter, the Liberty found either Jones or Stewart when it needed a bucket against Connecticut's tight defense.

https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1708588812513820820

Jonquel Jones has been SO DAMN GOOD today.

— Rachel Galligan (@RachGall) October 1, 2023

https://twitter.com/crinamm/status/1708587427789447353

Breanna Stewart:#WNBA #LightItUpNYL pic.twitter.com/XdZy3h0MW5

— Geoff Magliocchetti (@GeoffJMags) October 1, 2023

Stewie responds with a personal 7-0 run and there are "MVP" chants in the crowd.

CT calls timeout

Sun up 33-30 with 4:55 left in the half

— Maggie Vanoni (@maggie_vanoni) October 1, 2023

MVP MVP MVP 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/aL90FoJx5i

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 1, 2023

Jones helped seal the victory late in the fourth quarter. She fought through multiple Sun players to grab an offensive rebound and draw a foul with 54.1 seconds on the clock and New York holding onto a one-point lead.

The 2021 MVP knocked down both of her free throws and seconds later got a steal that resulted in two more points from the charity stripe. That provided the Liberty with enough breathing room down the stretch.

Beyond Jones and Stewart, Betnijah Laney's contributions were vital as well. The veteran wing continues to be New York's most consistent performer of the playoffs, finishing Game 4 with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

And that's why we caller Bucket B‼️ pic.twitter.com/DlN9cv44jg

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 1, 2023

Betnijah Laney has been a life jacket for the Liberty sheesh big time plays

— Ros Gold-Onwude (@ROSGO21) October 1, 2023

https://twitter.com/yanab0015/status/1708578757810819265

While the Liberty will take some time to celebrate the franchise's first WNBA Finals appearance since 2002, the job is far from finished. The Aces loom large on the horizon in what will be the most heavily anticipated title matchup in years.

Written from the start 👏🏼🔥 https://t.co/v79nnLrnTa

— chelsea leite (@chelsealeite) October 1, 2023

WNBA Finals:

New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces ✍️

— Camille Buxeda (@CamilleBuxeda) October 1, 2023

ACES-LIBERTY

FINALS TIME

LETS GOOOOO

— Matt Ellentuck (@mellentuck) October 1, 2023

I so wish that series was best-of-7, not ready for it to be over. BUT as much as I love and respect Connecticut, I'm so excited we're getting the Aces/Liberty finals this entire season has been building towards. We're pretty lucky.

— Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) October 1, 2023

liberty-aces finally just like we literally all predicted! but hey let's hope it's spicy 🌶️

— Hayley McGoldrick (@GoldieOnSports) October 1, 2023

Writers came back after the strike with some impeccable dramatics for what we all predicted would happen at beginning of the year: A Liberty-Aces Finals https://t.co/Od7HMGmCnn

— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) October 1, 2023

Aces Liberty is going to be an elite finals matchup

— kobe bryantini (@skydrew__) October 1, 2023

The series tips off Sunday, with the Aces hosting Game 1.

Las Vegas was the strongest team in the regular season from start to finish then swept both the Chicago Sky and Dallas Wings. A'ja Wilson averaged 25.8 points and 11.2 rebounds in her five games across the two rounds.

The odds of an Aces repeat look strong, but the Liberty did claim the season series 3-2 if you include the Commissioner's Cup championship. A titanic battle could unfold over the next few weeks.

The New York Liberty are one game away from the WNBA Finals.

The Liberty strung together their second consecutive win in the WNBA Semi-Finals, knocking off the Connecticut Sun 92-81.

The @nyliberty take Game 3 to go up 2-1 on the Sun 👀 pic.twitter.com/Xx0Ctz2INP

— ESPN (@espn) September 30, 2023

The @nyliberty take Game 3 versus the Sun, 92-81, and are now just one win away from the #WNBAFinals ‼

2023 #WNBAPlayoffs | @Google pic.twitter.com/rrrRZygEtu

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 30, 2023

Betnijah Laney had 20 points, Sabrina Ionescu had 16 and Courtney Vandersloot had 12 points. However, the star of the day for the Liberty was Breanna Stewart.

Off of one leg, @breannastewart connects for a 3-PT play opportunity 😤

📺 ESPN2 | 2023 #WNBAPlayoffs | @Google pic.twitter.com/KjIrdxJQNF

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 30, 2023

Breanna Stewart in tonight’s playoff win:

- 25 points
- 11 rebounds
- 2 assists
- 2 blocks
- 1 steal pic.twitter.com/qFT6rKTn6F

— student of the game (@secretwnbawag) September 30, 2023

Steward led all Liberty scorers with 25 points while also grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out two assists and two blocks. The 2023 MVP was a threat all over the court, going 11-of-19 on field goals and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.

Her performance not only catapulted the Liberty to victory, it caught the attention of social media. Fans shared praise for her outstanding day,

Breanna Stewart putting em away.

— Vada Fly (@Vada_Fly) September 30, 2023

Wow, Stewie can ball out.#BreannaStewart #mvp.#nyliberty

— Mike Fine (@michaelcfine) September 30, 2023

That’s What I’m Talmbout @breannastewart 🏀🪣🤑

— 🐆J.A.G🐆 (@DuvalDaGovernor) September 30, 2023

Breanna Stewart too nice omg 🤦🏾‍♂️

— Tyler Gaskins 🇵🇦 (@IAmTyGaskins) September 30, 2023

Breanna Stewart & 1!!! 😤😤😤😤#LightItUpNYL #WnbaTwitter #CTSun

— The Local W (@TheLocalW) September 30, 2023

Breanna Stewart is an absolute joy to watch.

— Asdfaeou (@Asdfaeou) September 30, 2023

Breanna Stewart with the one legged shot and one

— MPJ (@Livingggg365) September 30, 2023

BREANNA STEWART IS HER

— Betnijah Laney’s #1 fan 🇺🇸🏀⛹🏽‍♀️ (@sariuhhhh) September 30, 2023

BREANNA STEWART!!!#LightItUpNYL #WnbaTwitter #CTSun pic.twitter.com/PIEE5QArDr

— The Local W (@TheLocalW) September 30, 2023

Breanna Stewart cooking in Connecticut, I hope UCONN fans won't be upset when she's done cooking 🤣

— SoLA (@Gerrard098) September 30, 2023

https://twitter.com/ADreamersParade/status/1707928306580906473

https://twitter.com/jordannosparks_/status/1707928280794378542

Breanna Stewart going dumb! My MVP #LightItUpNYL 🗽

— Young Gohan (Cavs fan) (@B0t_Central) September 30, 2023

Safe to say I won’t bet on Breanna Stewart anymore. 25 pts and counting…

— Danielle (@_danielleeeees) September 30, 2023

Breanna Stewart got the best pull up jumper I’ve seen

— MPJ (@Livingggg365) September 30, 2023

The victory gives the Liberty a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series and the team has history on the line. The Liberty were one of the original WNBA Franchises but have been unable to bring a championship home. The team also hasn't won a conference title since 2002, so finishing the job will be at the forefront of everyones mind.

The Liberty have two chances to get it done. The first one will come Sunday, when the Sun host the Liberty for Game 4 at 3:00 P.M. ET.

On the same day that Breanna Stewart was named the WNBA's MVP for the second time, it was Sabrina Ionescu and a balanced effort from the New York Liberty's supporting cast that carried the team to an 84-77 victory over the Connecticut Sun in Game 2 of the WNBA Semifinals.

Ionescu put up 21 points and five assists, Betnijah Laney added 20 points—including 15 in the second half—and Courtney Vandersloot contributed 19 points in the victory. All five starters put up double-digit points.

Stewart struggled from the field, scoring 11 points on just 3-of-13 shooting, but she added 11 rebounds, five blocks and two steals, making her presence felt on the defensive end.

Stewie's throwing a block party at @barclayscenter, y'all wanna come? 😮‍💨🙅‍♀️ @breannastewart pic.twitter.com/zswK3MzVYG

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023

After the contest, fans and pundits alike were impressed by Ionescu, Laney and New York's team effort:

Sabrina Ionescu the driver....it's been to the Liberty's advantage tonight #WNBA #LightItUpNYL

— Geoff Magliocchetti (@GeoffJMags) September 27, 2023

here comes sabrina 😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬

— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) September 27, 2023

Betnijah Laney has absolutely been the difference for the New York Liberty in the second half. She has 20 total points on 7-11 shooting. 5-7 from three. @alexaphilippou said right next to me that she's made big plays at the right time. She's not wrong.

— Jackie Powell (she/her) (@ClassicJpow) September 27, 2023

Betnijah Laney with her *fifth* triple, and she backpedals, smiling. Just an awesome game from B, who is up to 20 points.

— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) September 27, 2023

https://twitter.com/thomastheauthor/status/1706854188372656393

Courtney Vandersloot is a *shooter* -- she sidesteps a closeout and knocks down a deep two from the corner. Next possession, she draws the defense and finds Stewie at the wing for a three. The Liberty have extended to a ten-point lead, 72-62, with 7:05 to go. Sloot has 15.

— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) September 27, 2023

JJ carried us at the beginning.

Sabrina carried us in the middle.

Laney carried us at the end.

I am so proud of the effort and determination we showed to get the win tonight. We could have easily folded when we were down 30-18.

🗽 #WNBATwitter

— The Crown 👑 (@thecrownliberty) September 27, 2023

The team effort spoiled Tiffany Hayes' 30-point outburst, while leading scorer DeWanna Bonner added 19 points, seven boards and four assists.

And so the best-of-five series head back to Connecticut even at a game apiece, with Game 3 set for Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The Liberty undoubtedly have the advantage in star power and overall talent, though the Sun's defense and physicality carried them in a 78-63 Game 1 win.

Connecticut coach Stephanie White called the Liberty an "offensive juggernaut" after that victory, though in Game 1 the Sun were able to slow down those fireworks. Even with Stewart struggling in Game 2, however, the Liberty rediscovered their offensive mojo.

Given Stewart's ability to steal a game or two in a series all by herself, Tuesday's loss is an ominous sign for the Sun.