The New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu made WNBA history with her playoff opener win. The Liberty, who hadn’t won a home playoff game since 2015, transformed their roster into a superteam during the offseason and are now aiming for their first championship.
In the game against the Washington Mystics, Ionescu made seven 3-pointers, tying for the third-most in any WNBA playoff game and setting a record for the most 3-pointers in a playoff opener. This achievement adds to Ionescu’s remarkable season, where she broke the WNBA single-season record with 128 made 3-pointers. Her shooting percentage from beyond the arc also improved significantly, reaching 44.8%, compared to last year’s 33.3%.
The victory was particularly sweet for the Liberty, as it came just days after the Mystics defeated them with a buzzer-beater in their regular season finale. Washington guard Natasha Cloud even waved goodbye to the crowd. Ionescu and her team felt the need to prove themselves and show the Mystics what it feels like to be defeated on their home court.
Despite a slow start from the Liberty’s superstars, with Betnijah Laney keeping them in the game, Ionescu remained confident. As her teammates continued to perform well, she knew that her opportunity to make an impact would come. And it did. In the second half, fueled by frustration over some no-calls from the officials, Ionescu went on a scoring spree. She closed the third frame with a personal 5-0 run and carried the momentum into the fourth quarter. Ionescu finished the game with a total of 26 points, securing the victory for the Liberty.
Ionescu credited the passionate crowd at the Barclays Center for their motivation and support throughout the season. She felt in the zone during the game, with the basket feeling really big when she was shooting. Winning the first playoff game at home was significant for the Liberty, and they want to continue playing their best basketball in front of their enthusiastic fans.
The Liberty’s Jonquel Jones also contributed greatly to the win, recording a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Washington’s Myisha Hines-Allen led her team with a season-high 21 points.
The next game, Game 2, will also take place at the Barclays Center on Tuesday. Washington will be looking to keep their season alive and potentially force a Game 3, which would be played in D.C. next Friday.
Overall, the New York Liberty made a statement with their playoff opener win, led by the record-breaking performance of Sabrina Ionescu. The team is determined to bring home the franchise’s first championship, and their superteam roster looks poised to make a deep playoff run. With their passionate fanbase behind them, the Liberty are ready to continue their winning ways on their home court.
