With a seven-point lead following a pair of missed free throws from the Sky’s Kahleah Copper, Sabrina Ionescu grabbed the defensive rebound and dribbled the ball up the right sideline near halfcourt. A tired group of Chicago defenders backed off on defense before the Liberty’s star point guard heaved a pass to Stefanie Dolson as the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard.
When the final buzzer sounded, Wintrust Arena in Chicago was silent. The Liberty had defeated the reigning WNBA champion Sky, 98-91, in Game 1 of the WNBA playoffs.
In her first year as New York's head coach, a collected Sandy Brondello guided the franchise to its first playoff win since Sept. 23, 2015, against a lineup full of All-Star players, future Naismith Hall of Famers and the reigning WNBA Finals MVP. Filled with exhilaration, Ionescu lifted her arms and let out her emotion as she walked to a team bench full of hugs and smiles after shocking the second-seeded Sky to open the best-of-three series.
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Though Ionescu is the fearless commander of the Liberty’s offense and the team’s leading scorer, she was only 22 percent of the reason why the Liberty were able to pull off the victory in the scoring column. Aside from Ionescu, Brondello played nine players that included three starters scoring 13 or more points and her team combined for 21 points off the bench.
“We found a way to win by staying together, competing and making plays when we needed to,” Brondello said after the game.
At the end of July, the playoffs looked bleak for New York. The Liberty sat 11-18 in the WNBA standings. New York couldn't win in close games down the stretch and health also played a role. But after going 5-2 in August and earning a tight win against Atlanta in the regular-season finale to secure a playoff spot Sunday, the Liberty started a new season in the WNBA playoffs. Behind a victory in front of an energized crowd in Chicago, New York has the confidence that it can do more.
“We’ve been in this situation all year,” Ionescu told ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the game. “Early on, we were losing these games and we found out what it takes to win. ... Everybody counted us out and didn’t think we would make the playoffs … 20 percent chance to get in. We used that as fuel to fire.”
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Neither team held a double-digit lead in the contest. After a clean first quarter with zero turnovers, Chicago looked primed to break open the game with a 7-0 run and 9-0 run in the second quarter. However, in the final four minutes of the second quarter, Chicago committed a half dozen turnovers. The Liberty took advantage of the Sky’s costly miscues with 14 points to take a 48-45 halftime lead after a 15-3 run.
The Liberty kept control in the early part of the third quarter and led by as many as nine points, fueled by huge buckets from Dolson, the glue to the team, and Laney.
“[Dolson] knows what it takes to win,” Ionescu said. “She's been on a championship team.”
The Sky brought the deficit to within two points before regaining the lead (74-73) off of a layup from Emma Meesseman heading into the fourth quarter.
Through the first couple minutes of the final period, all signs pointed to the reigning champs pulling away and New York falling into its trap of losing close games down the stretch. But, following a timeout midway through the quarter, New York’s Marine Johannes facilitated the biggest play of the game when she lobbed a no-look pass behind her head to a wide-open Natasha Howard for a layup.
“I didn’t know [Johannes] was going to pass it or not,” Howard said. “But I was ready ... It kind of reminded me of a pass from Sue Bird.”
That play ignited the Liberty’s comeback efforts in the final minutes of the game. Chicago missed 10 of its 11 shots down the stretch, and New York used a 13-0 run over the final 2:54 to seal the victory.
The Liberty didn’t fold and played with urgency, making defensive stops and nailing big shots with confidence when it mattered most.
New York could potentially close out the series Saturday in Game 2. If Chicago wins, the Liberty will host a win-or-go-home Game 3 in the Big Apple under the WNBA's new playoff format.
While the stakes of the series have been raised with a hungry Liberty squad determined to defy the odds, Ionescu remains as cool as the other side of the pillow.
"I love pressure," Ionescu said. "I want to be great. I want to do whatever it takes to help my team win."
One more victory sits between New York and a potential spot in the WNBA semifinals. The Liberty's resilience will be tested again. But, after Wednesday's victory, they are embracing the challenge.
“Why not us?" Ionescu said. "We believe in ourselves.”
