Liberty Respond with Emphasis, Even WNBA Finals 1-1 » Winsidr

NEW YORK – Before New York general manager Jonathan Kolb assembled a roster overflowing with former MVPs and WNBA champions, before head coach Sandy Brondello packed up her Phoenix home and headed eastward—immense leadership skills in tow—it was Sabrina Ionescu and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton who formed the Liberty heartbeat.

It was Ionescu and Laney-Hamilton who turned New York into the appealing free agency destination it once was, who set the tone with their tireless work ethic and relentless competitiveness. 

Three years later and New York finds itself within earshot of the first title in franchise history. That 2021 season may feel like eons ago (did someone say, “social distancing?”), but Ionescu and Laney-Hamilton are proof that some things never change.   

Ionescu scored 12 of New York’s first 25 points on Sunday afternoon, Laney-Hamilton was brilliant for the duration, and New York evened the 2024 WNBA Finals, 1-1, with a 80-66 victory over Minnesota in front of a record 18,046 at Barclays Center. 

The Lynx never led. 

With just over three minutes remaining, Ionescu found Laney-Hamilton alone in the corner, the Rutgers graduate (C. Vivian Stringer was in the house!) canning a triple for a 71-66 lead. 

“That’s really what my goal was, was just take what the defense gives me, not forcing anything but understanding I’m going to be able to drive-and-kick,” said Ionescu. “And multiple players hit really big shots. I don’t always need to be looking to score every single time I have the ball.”

Laney-Hamilton’s impact cannot be overstated. 

The 30-year-old underwent surgery on her right knee during the Olympics break this summer and did not appear fully healthy upon return. Throughout the playoffs, it’s been clear Laney-Hamilton is not 100 percent. 

But Sunday? This was the version of Laney-Hamilton that first endeared herself to Liberty faithful years ago. This version of Laney-Hamilton appeared unencumbered by pain, her bouncy, sturdy, determined self on full display when New York needed her most.

Laney-Hamilton scored 20 points, nailing 8-of-14 field goal attempts and 4-of-6 three-pointers in 32 stellar minutes. 

“I think what B brings is this grit, this toughness,” said Breanna Stewart. “All of us know, she’s giving us whatever she’s got. The way that she continued to be aggressive, they were going under on her and she knocked that thing down with confidence, got into the paint, drive-and-kicks. But that’s what we’re used to. We know she can do this and we’re happy to see her get into a good rhythm.”

Laney-Hamilton did the majority of her offensive damage in the first half, hitting a corner three with just over three minutes remaining before intermission for a 46-29 Liberty advantage. 

“I’m more than disappointed,” said Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve of their 17-point first half deficit. “I’m pissed that that happened again.”

This was vintage Laney-Hamilton through-and-through. Minnesota dared her to shoot, and Laney-Hamilton metaphorically beamed at the prospect of open looks. There was the tough stuff, too, the fadeaway leaners in a congested key and the suffocating defense, always a hallmark of her game. 

“[Betnijah’s] defense—she was everywhere,” said Brondello. “She was guarding everyone. I’m really happy for her.”

Ionescu and Laney-Hamilton set the tone, but it was New York’s airtight team defense that carried them for the full 40. 

In a push that somewhat mirrored what transpired on Thursday, Minnesota cut the New York lead to two midway through the fourth quarter. A palpable concern wafted through the arena, nightmares of Game 1 circulating the minds of the seafoam contingent. 

One play reset the momentum and altered the course of the game. With 4:14 left, Stewart fronted Collier in the post, the Liberty MVP draped over Minnesota’s star as she denied an entry pass and dove on the floor to secure possession. It was one of Stewart’s seven steals on the afternoon—a WNBA Finals record. It was a breathtaking display of anticipation and execution, Stewart’s arms seemingly longer than the lines to see Ellie the Elephant in concert. 

Stewart missed the ensuing look on the other end, but Jonquel Jones was there on cleanup duty, nailing a putback for a 68-64 Liberty lead.

Courtney Williams wasn’t the world-destroyer on Sunday that she’d been Thursday evening, but she still did Courtney Williams things (15 points on 7-of-14 shooting), including answering Jones’s bucket with a layup of her own to slice Minnesota’s deficit in half. 

Then, New York did what it was unable to do in Game 1: separate and put the damn thing on ice. Minnesota would not score again.

BIG B AND THE B STANDS FOR BUCKETSSS 🪣

👑🐝 @BetnijahLaney | #LIGHTITUPNYL pic.twitter.com/TW9863BVKE

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 13, 2024

First, the aforementioned Ionescu to Laney-Hamilton triple, keying a 12-0 Liberty run that would send the series back to Minnesota. 

Then, a few minutes later, the Liberty delivered a hilariously on-brand final blow. 

Yet to score with just over 90 seconds left, Leonie Fiebich gathered a ball Williams had just dribbled off her own foot. Alone ahead of the play and with 18,000-plus holding its collective breath, Fiebich calmly entered the scoring column with a triple to send Minnesota packing.

Kill some clock? You thought! This thing’s going up! 

“I was thinking no, no, she’s up—no, no, she’s going to shoot it,” quipped Brondello. “But a three-point shot is a layup for her. We encourage her to shoot all those threes. I love the confidence that she brings.”

Fiebich was a plus-17 in 30 minutes. 

Jones scored 14 points and grabbed nine boards, but it was her sterling hustle and looming length that left the most potent mark. Jones blew up action after action, hedging aggressively in the pick-and-roll rather than settling for a more conservative drop coverage. 

Stewart added to her seven steals with 21 points, eight boards, and five assists. Her shooting stroke was assured. Her defense on Collier was phenomenal. 

“[Collier] wants to go left, she wants to go over the right shoulder,” said Stewart. “She’s going to pump fake a million times. So just staying down and making her continue to take tough shots that she doesn’t want to take.”

Look: when all of New York’s starting five are firing, there’s simply nothing the opponent can do: No space to operate on offense; way too much space to cover defensively. 

Sunday, New York treated us to a taste of the beautiful game. 

No panic, all business. 

Reader, we have a series.