New York Liberty Advance to Semifinals with Win Over Atlanta Dream
Sabrina Ionescu tied a franchise playoff record with 36 points and the New York Liberty beat the Atlanta Dream 91-82 on Tuesday night to advance to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs.
Lavish Performance by Ionescu
Ionescu dominated the game, tying the franchise playoff record for the most points scored by a Liberty player. She went 13-for-19 from the field and 7-for-7 from the free-throw line, adding five assists and three rebounds to her impressive stat line.
Contribution from Jones and Strong Defense
Jonquel Jones added 20 points and 13 rebounds for the top-seeded Liberty, who swept the best-of-three series. The team’s strong defense limited Atlanta to 39% field-goal shooting, while Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard did all they could to try and stave off elimination.
Third Quarter Surge Propels New York
The Liberty took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter and the teams went back and forth before a layup by Courtney Vandersloot made it 75-72 with 5:41 left and started a 12-2 run. Breanna Stewart followed later in the spurt by swooping in for an offensive tip-in. Leonie Fiebich then had a three-point play to extend the advantage to 82-74 with 4:11 left.
Atlanta’s Resilience
Atlanta came out strong in the second quarter, leading 40-36 before the Libery rallied to take the lead. Gray finished with 26 points and Howard added 19, showing great resilience in the loss.
Halftime Performance Adds to the Excitement
The game drew another sold-out crowd for New York that included Olympian Gabby Thomas, singer Pharrell, Spike Lee, Whoopi Goldberg, and half-time performer Ja Rule. The electric atmosphere added to the excitement of the playoffs.
Awards and Accolades
A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark won WNBA MVP and AP Rookie of the Year awards respectively after record-breaking seasons.
Conclusion
The New York Liberty’s win over Atlanta Dream secured their spot in the semifinals, ending their series with a three-game sweep. Ionescu’s record-breaking 36 points led the Liberty to victory, with great contributions from Jones and defense.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
FAQs
Q1: Who scored 36 points for the New York Liberty?
A1: Sabrina Ionescu, who tied a franchise playoff record.
Q2: How many points did Gray and Howard score for the Atlanta Dream?
A2: Allisha Gray finished with 26 points, while Rhyne Howard had 19.
Q3: Who performed at half-time?
A3: Half-time performer Ja Rule delighted the sold-out crowd in New York.
