Sports
New York Liberty Advance to WNBA Finals for First Time Since 2002 … – New York Liberty
October 1, 2023
2023 WNBA Finals Games 3 and 4 Tickets at Barclays Center On-Sale Now
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 1, 2023 – With today’s 87-84 win over the Connecticut Sun in Game 4 of the WNBA Semifinals, the New York Liberty have advanced to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2002.
New York will take on the Las Vegas Aces in a best-of-five series for the WNBA Championship. The 2023 WNBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV schedule is below:
*If necessary
Tickets for Games 3 and 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center are on-sale now. Game 3 tickets are available here, and Game 4 tickets are available here.
WNBA SEMIFINALS GAME 4 RECAP:
TEAM NOTABLES
On Sunday, the New York Liberty defeated the Connecticut Sun, 87-84, in Game 4 of their 2023 WNBA Semifinals series, winning the series 3-1 and securing the franchise’s first WNBA Finals appearance since 2002.
New York finished with three 20-point scorers in today’s closeout victory, marking the first-ever occurrence in franchise postseason history. Entering today’s contest, there had only been 13 other times in WNBA postseason history that a team has finished with three 20-point scorers.
At Mohegan Sun Arena, the Liberty finished on 41.2% (28-68) shooting from the field, 45.5% (10-22) from three, and 84.0% (21-25) at the free throw line.
New York out-rebounded Connecticut, 42-33, and also outscored Connecticut, 42-34, in the paint.
Through two rounds this postseason, the Liberty have four players averaging 16-plus points per game: Breanna Stewart (19.8), Betnijah Laney (17.0), Jonquel Jones (16.5), and Sabrina Ionescu (16.3). The Liberty are the first team in WNBA history to have four different players averaging 16-plus points per game entering the Finals.
Up Next: The New York Liberty will take on the Las Vegas Aces in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday, October 8, at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
KEY RUNS
Q1: Connecticut went on a 21-9 run from the 4:11 mark of the first to the 6:16 mark of the second quarter.
Q2: New York went on a 14-6 run from the 5:58 mark of the second to the 2:54 mark of the quarter.
Q3: New York opened the second half with a 7-0 run through the 7:09 mark of the quarter, prompting a Connecticut timeout.
Q4: Connecticut responded with a 19-7 run from the 1:12 mark of the third to the 3:54 mark of the fourth quarter.
PLAYER NOTABLES
New York finished with three double-digit scorers in today’s game (Stewart, Jones, Laney).
The 2023 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player, Breanna Stewart, finished with a game-high 27 points on 45% (9-20) shooting from the field, including 60% (3-5) from three, nine rebounds, and two blocks.
Marking the 16th double-double of her postseason career and league-leading sixth double-double this postseason, Jonquel Jones totaled 25 points and a postseason franchise-record-tying 15 rebounds on 50% (7-14) shooting from the field, 66.7% (2-3) from three, and 75% (9-12) from the line, as well as a postseason career-high-tying four blocks, two assists, and a steal. Nine of her 25 points came in the third quarter, while her seven first-quarter rebounds tied a postseason career-high for a quarter.
Following her steal at the 0:45 mark of the fourth quarter, the 20th of her postseason career, Jonquel was fouled on a breakaway layup attempt and sank both free throw attempts, giving the Liberty a two-possession lead with 0:42 remaining in the contest.
Including today’s performance, Jones has recorded a double-double in every contest this postseason, tying the WNBA postseason record for the most consecutive double-doubles in a single postseason and setting the league record for the most consecutive double-doubles to start a postseason.
Her six double-doubles this postseason are a franchise single-postseason record and the franchise career-postseason double-double record.
In today’s Game 4, Jones also recorded her 500th career postseason point with her second free throw at the 8:19 mark of the third quarter.
Highlighted by a postseason career-high-tying nine first-quarter points, Betnijah Laney finished with 21 points on 44.4% (8-18) shooting from the field, including 42.9% (3-7) from three, seven rebounds, and a postseason career-high-tying five assists. She has scored 19-plus points in five of New York’s six games this postseason –– all New York wins.
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