Liberty avoid WNBA Finals sweep as Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart lead Game 3 win over Aces

NEW YORK (AP) — In an exhilarating performance, Jonquel Jones dominated the court with 27 points, while Breanna Stewart contributed 20 to secure a resounding victory for the New York Liberty over the Las Vegas Aces in game three of the 2023 WNBA Finals. The Liberty’s outstanding performance forced a fourth game in the series.

After a lackluster start in the previous two games against the Aces, the Liberty found their shooting prowess in game three, led by Jones, who made four of the team’s 13 successful 3-point shots.

This victory marked the Liberty’s first win in the WNBA Finals since Teresa Weatherspoon’s iconic half-court shot in 1999. Despite this win, the Aces maintain a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series, with game four scheduled for Wednesday night in New York.

The Liberty held a narrow three-point lead at halftime and then surged ahead in the third quarter, scoring the first eight points and gaining a double-digit advantage. The electrifying atmosphere in the Barclays Center was palpable as the home crowd of 17,143 celebrated. The Liberty maintained a comfortable 61-50 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Aces, led by A’ja Wilson, fought back to narrow the lead to six points, but Stewart’s turnaround jumper and a steal and layup from Betnijah Laney extended the Liberty’s lead to 10 points once again.

Unfortunately, the Aces failed to mount a comeback, and star guard Chelsea Gray had to leave the game due to an injury in the fourth quarter.

Kelsey Plum showcased her skills with 29 points for the Aces, while Wilson contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Aces, aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since the 2001-02 Los Angeles Sparks, had dominated the postseason with seven consecutive victories by an average margin of 17.3 points. They were hopeful of achieving a perfect 8-0 record in the playoffs, a feat not accomplished since Seattle in 2020.

The first two games of the series, as well as the four regular-season meetings, were characterized by one-sided outcomes. The closest game occurred on August 28, when the Liberty secured a narrow nine-point victory. This win marked the Aces’ first loss since that encounter.

New York showed moments of brilliance in the first half, buoyed by the sold-out crowd, which included NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and basketball legends Dawn Staley, Sue Bird, and Tony Parker. The Liberty extended their lead to 41-34 before the Aces closed the gap to 43-40 at halftime. Jones had an impressive 16 points in the first half, while Plum scored 15 points.

BIG APPLE BASKETBALL IS BACK

This game marked the return of the WNBA Finals to New York after a two-decade absence. The Liberty’s previous appearance in the finals was in 2002, when they were swept by the Sparks. Aces coach Becky Hammon, who played for the Liberty during that time, remembered the city’s excitement and support during their previous runs. Since then, no basketball team representing New York in the NBA or WNBA has reached this stage of the playoffs.

“This is New York City, a basketball mecca. It’s a great feeling when all the sports teams perform well—The Nets, the Knicks, and the Liberty,” said Hammon. “New York is a basketball town filled with passionate fans who appreciate quality basketball. If you don’t deliver, they will let you know.”

Liberty legends Vickie Johnson, Crystal Robinson, Sue Wicks, and Teresa Weatherspoon, who played alongside Hammon in the previous Finals appearances, were present at the game and received a warm ovation when introduced during the third quarter. Richie Adubato, the Liberty’s coach during that era, was also in attendance.

STAR-STUDDED CROWD

The WNBA Finals drew a star-studded audience, including musician Joan Jett, actors Jason Sudeikis and Michael Shannon, and journalist Robin Roberts. The halftime show featured a performance by Lil’ Kim.