Breanna Stewart helps New York even WNBA Finals series as Liberty beat Lynx 80-66 in Game 2
NEW YORK (AP) Breanna Stewart wasn't going to let history repeat itself.
With the Minnesota Lynx making another fourth quarter run, the two-time league MVP refused to let the New York Liberty lose again.
Stewart scored 21 points and had a WNBA Finals record seven steals to help the Liberty beat the Lynx 80-66 on Sunday in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals.
Just like Game 1, New York built a double-digit lead in the first half, only to see it evaporate. This time they didn’t completely collapse, holding on to even the series 1-1 as it shifts to Minnesota for Game 3 on Wednesday night.
“The moment the game ended Thursday night I was looking forward to Sunday to change things, change the narrative a little bit," Stewart said. “Be the same I was and be obviously better.”
Minnesota was down nine early in the fourth before getting within 68-66 on Courtney Williams' layup with 3:40 left in the game. Those were the last points Minnesota would score.
“Our offense was bad at a time when we really needed it. Our pace was slow," Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. “Taking too long to get into things, and you know, I don’t think we were terribly hard to play against from that standpoint. And that was obviously a difficult time to be doing that.”
New York clamped down defensively and converted offensively. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton started the game-closing 12-0 run with a 3-pointer in the corner. Stewart's putback with 57 seconds left gave New York a double-digit advantage. She missed a free throw with 0.8 seconds left in regulation of Game 1 that would have lifted New York to victory in that contest.
Laney-Hamilton finished with 20 points, hitting key shots for the team throughout the game as well as being a defensive stopper. She missed more than a month after injuring her right knee before the Olympic break. She's still been working her way back.
“I think what she brings is this grit, this toughness,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. “All of us know she’s giving us whatever she’s got. And the way that she continued to be aggressive, they were going under on her and she knocked that thing down with confidence.”
Stewart also had eight rebounds and five assists to go with the steals mark.
“I wanted to make it difficult for all the players I was going against,” Stewart said.
Once again the game drew a sellout crowd of 18,040 that included Jennifer Hudson, Katie Couric, Fat Joe and UConn coach Geno Auriemma. It was the largest crowd ever for the Liberty at Barclays.
With the win, New York avoided going down 0-2 and having to pull off a historic comeback. All 20 teams that had been down 0-2 in the best-of-five Finals had lost the series.
Napheesa Collier had 16 points and Williams added 15 for the Lynx.
New York led 23-21 before scoring the final eight points of the first quarter to go up 31-21 at the break. Sabrina Ionescu had 10 of her 15 points in the opening 10 minutes and Stewart added seven.
The Liberty extended the lead to 46-31 before Minnesota closed to 10 at the half.
The Lynx got within 57-53 near the end of the third quarter before Stewart hit two free throws, had a massive block on the other end and then capped it off making a jumper from the quarter to give New York a 61-53 advantage heading to the fourth.
The Liberty led 64-55 early in the fourth before the Lynx scored 11 of the next 15 to briefly get within striking distance.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 1st Quarter | |||
10:00 | Jump Ball: Napheesa Collier vs. Jonquel Jones. | |||
9:46 | Jonquel Jones steals the ball from Alanna Smith. | |||
9:41 | +2 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a layup. | 0-2 | |
9:19 | Breanna Stewart steals the ball from Courtney Williams. | |||
9:11 | +3 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Breanna Stewart with the assist. | 0-5 | |
8:56 | Personal foul committed by Leonie Fiebich. | |||
8:50 | Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 13 feet out. | |||
8:50 | Courtney Williams with an offensive rebound. | |||
8:45 | Kayla McBride misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
8:45 | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:37 | Jonquel Jones misses a layup. | |||
8:37 | Bridget Carleton with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:29 | +2 | Alanna Smith makes a layup. Bridget Carleton with the assist. | 2-5 | |
8:04 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | |||
8:04 | Courtney Williams with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:53 | Napheesa Collier with a turnover - Lost Ball | |||
7:43 | Offensive foul committed by Jonquel Jones. | |||
7:43 | Jonquel Jones with a turnover | |||
7:34 | +2 | Alanna Smith makes a layup. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 4-5 | |
7:26 | Breanna Stewart misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
7:26 | Leonie Fiebich with an offensive rebound. | |||
7:19 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a layup. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with the assist. | 4-7 | |
7:13 | Kayla McBride misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
7:13 | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:03 | +3 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. Breanna Stewart with the assist. | 4-10 | |
6:49 | +3 | Courtney Williams makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | 7-10 | |
6:37 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a jump shot from 15 feet out. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 7-12 | |
6:18 | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a jump shot from 13 feet out. Bridget Carleton with the assist. | 9-12 | |
6:10 | Sabrina Ionescu with a turnover - Out of Bounds | |||
5:58 | Breanna Stewart steals the ball from Courtney Williams. | |||
5:53 | Jump Ball: Jonquel Jones vs. Napheesa Collier. | |||
5:33 | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a layup. Leonie Fiebich with the assist. | 9-14 | |
5:17 | +2 | Alanna Smith makes a layup. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 11-14 | |
5:04 | +2 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a jump shot from 17 feet out. | 11-16 | |
4:50 | Alanna Smith misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
4:50 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:41 | +2 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a jump shot from 13 feet out. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with the assist. | 11-18 | |
4:29 | +3 | Bridget Carleton makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Napheesa Collier with the assist. | 14-18 | |
4:12 | +3 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. Breanna Stewart with the assist. | 14-21 | |
3:52 | +2 | Kayla McBride makes a layup. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 16-21 | |
3:36 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | |||
3:36 | Breanna Stewart with an offensive rebound. | |||
3:27 | Jonquel Jones with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
3:27 | Official's timeout. | |||
3:27 | Substitution: Kayla Thornton in for Leonie Fiebich. | |||
3:05 | Napheesa Collier misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
3:05 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:58 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with a turnover - Lost Ball | |||
2:46 | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a jump shot from 22 feet out. | 18-21 | |
2:30 | +2 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a layup. | 18-23 | |
2:12 | +3 | Kayla McBride makes a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. Alanna Smith with the assist. | 21-23 | |
2:01 | Bridget Carleton steals the ball from Breanna Stewart. | |||
1:56 | Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 19 feet out. | |||
1:56 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:36 | Substitution: Leonie Fiebich in for Jonquel Jones. | |||
1:36 | Substitution: Nyara Sabally in for Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. | |||
1:32 | +2 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a jump shot from 23 feet out. Breanna Stewart with the assist. | 21-25 | |
1:16 | Bridget Carleton misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
1:16 | Leonie Fiebich with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:05 | +3 | Breanna Stewart makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 21-28 | |
54.0 | Napheesa Collier with a turnover - Traveling | |||
54.0 | Substitution: Natisha Hiedeman in for Alanna Smith. | |||
54.0 | Substitution: Myisha Hines-Allen in for Courtney Williams. | |||
54.0 | Substitution: Cecilia Zandalasini in for Kayla McBride. | |||
43.4 | +3 | Kayla Thornton makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Breanna Stewart with the assist. | 21-31 | |
35.0 | Bridget Carleton misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
35.0 | Leonie Fiebich with a defensive rebound. | |||
21.5 | Substitution: Courtney Vandersloot in for Sabrina Ionescu. | |||
21.5 | Jump Ball: Napheesa Collier vs. Breanna Stewart. | |||
09.3 | Breanna Stewart misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
09.3 | Cecilia Zandalasini with a defensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | Nyara Sabally blocks a Bridget Carleton layup. | |||
0.0 | Lynx with an offensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | End of the 1st Quarter |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 2nd Quarter | |||
9:39 | Kayla Thornton misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
9:39 | Natisha Hiedeman with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:30 | Napheesa Collier misses a layup. | |||
9:30 | Courtney Vandersloot with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:21 | Breanna Stewart misses a layup. | |||
9:21 | Breanna Stewart with an offensive rebound. | |||
9:18 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a jump shot from 7 feet out. | 21-33 | |
8:57 | Personal foul committed by Breanna Stewart. | |||
8:44 | +3 | Bridget Carleton makes a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. Cecilia Zandalasini with the assist. | 24-33 | |
8:23 | Nyara Sabally with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
8:06 | Cecilia Zandalasini misses a jump shot from 21 feet out. | |||
8:06 | Nyara Sabally with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:49 | Myisha Hines-Allen steals the ball from Courtney Vandersloot. | |||
7:42 | Substitution: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton in for Kayla Thornton. | |||
7:42 | Substitution: Jonquel Jones in for Nyara Sabally. | |||
7:42 | Jump Ball: Natisha Hiedeman vs. Courtney Vandersloot. | |||
7:31 | Napheesa Collier misses a jump shot from 13 feet out. | |||
7:31 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:24 | Breanna Stewart misses a jump shot from 7 feet out. | |||
7:24 | Myisha Hines-Allen with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:16 | +3 | Natisha Hiedeman makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Bridget Carleton with the assist. | 27-33 | |
7:03 | Jonquel Jones misses a layup. | |||
7:03 | Natisha Hiedeman with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:57 | Substitution: Sabrina Ionescu in for Leonie Fiebich. | |||
6:57 | Substitution: Kayla McBride in for Bridget Carleton. | |||
6:57 | Jump Ball: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton vs. Cecilia Zandalasini. | |||
6:57 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton steals the ball from Natisha Hiedeman. | |||
6:55 | Breanna Stewart misses a jump shot from 16 feet out. | |||
6:55 | Jonquel Jones with an offensive rebound. | |||
6:52 | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a jump shot from 1 foot out. | 27-35 | |
6:36 | Sabrina Ionescu steals the ball from Natisha Hiedeman. | |||
6:32 | Shooting foul committed by Kayla McBride. | |||
6:32 | +1 | Sabrina Ionescu makes free throw 1 of 2. | 27-36 | |
6:32 | Substitution: Courtney Williams in for Natisha Hiedeman. | |||
6:32 | +1 | Sabrina Ionescu makes free throw 2 of 2. | 27-37 | |
6:14 | Myisha Hines-Allen misses a jump shot from 9 feet out. | |||
6:14 | Lynx with an offensive rebound. | |||
6:12 | Substitution: Leonie Fiebich in for Courtney Vandersloot. | |||
6:12 | Substitution: Alanna Smith in for Napheesa Collier. | |||
6:03 | Kayla McBride misses a jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
6:03 | Leonie Fiebich with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:00 | Personal foul committed by Myisha Hines-Allen. | |||
6:00 | Substitution: Nyara Sabally in for Breanna Stewart. | |||
5:42 | +3 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | 27-40 | |
5:22 | Cecilia Zandalasini with a turnover - Lost Ball | |||
5:22 | Liberty take a full timeout. | |||
5:22 | Substitution: Napheesa Collier in for Myisha Hines-Allen. | |||
5:22 | Substitution: Bridget Carleton in for Cecilia Zandalasini. | |||
5:08 | Leonie Fiebich misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | |||
5:08 | Nyara Sabally with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:55 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
4:55 | Nyara Sabally with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:50 | Sabrina Ionescu with a turnover - Traveling | |||
4:50 | Substitution: Breanna Stewart in for Nyara Sabally. | |||
4:32 | Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 20 feet out. | |||
4:32 | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:16 | +3 | Breanna Stewart makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Leonie Fiebich with the assist. | 27-43 | |
3:54 | Napheesa Collier misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | |||
3:54 | Napheesa Collier with an offensive rebound. | |||
3:51 | Breanna Stewart steals the ball from Napheesa Collier. | |||
3:43 | Breanna Stewart misses a layup. | |||
3:43 | Napheesa Collier with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:38 | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup. | 29-43 | |
3:22 | +3 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 29-46 | |
3:04 | +2 | Bridget Carleton makes a layup. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 31-46 | |
2:48 | Personal foul committed by Napheesa Collier. | |||
2:48 | Lynx take a full timeout. | |||
2:39 | Breanna Stewart misses a jump shot from 15 feet out. | |||
2:39 | Napheesa Collier with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:20 | Personal foul committed by Jonquel Jones. | |||
2:09 | Napheesa Collier with a turnover - Lost Ball | |||
1:55 | Jonquel Jones misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | |||
1:55 | Leonie Fiebich with an offensive rebound. | |||
1:47 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
1:36 | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a layup. Kayla McBride with the assist. | 33-46 | |
1:17 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a jump shot from 14 feet out. | |||
1:17 | Courtney Williams with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:06 | +2 | Alanna Smith makes a layup. Napheesa Collier with the assist. | 35-46 | |
53.0 | Shooting foul committed by Courtney Williams. | |||
53.0 | +1 | Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2. | 35-47 | |
53.0 | Substitution: Nyara Sabally in for Jonquel Jones. | |||
53.0 | +1 | Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2. | 35-48 | |
37.1 | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a jump shot from 14 feet out. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 37-48 | |
14.7 | Shooting foul committed by Bridget Carleton. | |||
14.7 | +1 | Nyara Sabally makes free throw 1 of 2. | 37-49 | |
14.7 | Substitution: Kayla Thornton in for Sabrina Ionescu. | |||
14.7 | Nyara Sabally misses free throw 2 of 2. | |||
14.7 | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
03.1 | Shooting foul committed by Kayla Thornton. | |||
03.1 | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 2. | 38-49 | |
03.1 | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 2 of 2. | 39-49 | |
0.0 | Breanna Stewart misses a 3-point jump shot from 38 feet out. | |||
0.0 | Liberty with an offensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | End of the 2nd Quarter |