![]() “Those expectations come from within, not the outside. Ionescu summed up her season and how after severely spraining her ankle in Game 3 of her rookie year, she wanted a new start. I love this team❤️ Thank you to all the fans - Joe Tsai September 24, 2021 Post-game, there were a variety of comments summing up the season, led by Liberty Co-Governor Joe Tsai. Cunningham shot 6-of-7 from behind the arc en route to 22 points, 18 of which came in the second half of play. The defense would scramble to rotate on the weakside, content enough to let the Mercury beat them from the perimeter - until Cunningham happened. They flew around and understood their rotations almost all game.” It was the entire team executing the game plan. ![]() Postgame, Hopkins commented on his team’s defense on Griner: “I don’t think it’s fair to say one player was responsible. From the first minute, at least two Liberty defenders were on Griner on the block immediately after she caught the ball. With WNBA GOAT candidate Diana Taurasi ruled out an hour before tip-off, New York’s defensive focus quickly turned to the post-dominant Griner. Ionescu summed up her season and game this way.īetnijah Laney carried the Liberty in scoring - as she has done all season, scoring 25 points from all three levels. Her elite playmaking was on display with 11 assists, which accompanied 14 points and five rebounds. In what she had dubbed was essentially a continuation of her rookie year, Sabrina Ionescu shined in her final match. The Liberty impressed as they halted Phoenix’s run, and entered a tight fourth quarter. Hot shooting helped New York maintain a lead throughout the second and part of the third quarter, but an eruption from Phoenix’s sharpshooting Sophie Cunningham ensued. The Liberty have lived and died by their 3-point shooting all season, and their final game against the Mercury was no exception. They carried a four point lead into the half. It was the culmination of the Liberty’s attempt to pull an upset for the ages.Īfter trailing early in the first quarter, New York fought back mightily to keep the score close at the end of the first period with a string of defensive stops and long-range scores. ![]() ![]() The theatrics of the final minutes kept every fan on the edge of their proverbial seat, and especially Betnijah Laney’s game-tying pullup triple with 2.7 seconds remaining, which put overtime in play.ĮSPN2 /9aDY4HkuNz- WNBA September 24, 2021 Though he said that play was not one of his gripes, Hopkins was clearly displeased with the officiating postgame: “There are a lot of things I want to say about the officiating in the WNBA and the lack of respect we’ve gotten all season. Brittney Griner contested Ionescu’s heave, and left the guard on the floor afterwards. Walt Hopkins’ squad scrambled for an open shot, but Sabrina Ionescu’s long-range attempt fell short, and New York lost, 83-82. After barely slipping into the playoff picture on the final day of the WNBA regular season, New York was pitted against the Phoenix Mercury in a single-elimination first round game.Īfter a night of 13 lead changes and momentum-shifting runs from both squads, the Liberty found themselves down one point with only 0.4 of a second remaining. ![]()
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