WNBA New York Liberty

Liberty Surge Past Las Vegas to Get Back in Title Fight

Published on October 15, 2023 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
New York Liberty News Release


On Sunday, in front of a Liberty record-breaking sellout crowd of 17,143 at Barclays Center, the New York Liberty defeated the Las Vegas Aces, 87-73, in Game 3 of the 2023 WNBA Finals, forcing a Game 4 on Wednesday.

The Liberty's victory today marked their first Finals win since Teresa Weatherspoon's half-court shot in Game 2 of the 1999 WNBA Finals, and the team's first Finals win at home in franchise history.

At Barclays Center, the Liberty finished on 52.4% (33-63) shooting from the field, 43.3% (13-30) from three, and 50% (8-16) at the free throw line.

The Liberty's 13 three-pointers tied the franchise postseason record and tied for the third most three-point makes in a Finals game in WNBA history.

New York's eight blocks tied for the second-most in a single game in franchise postseason history, while the Liberty defense held Las Vegas to a postseason-low 33.3% shooting from the field.

Additionally, Las Vegas' 10 third-quarter points marked a postseason-low in quarterly scoring, while their 31.8% shooting from three is their second-lowest mark of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs.

Up Next: The New York Liberty will host the Las Vegas Aces in Game 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals on Wednesday, October 18, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

KEY RUNS

Q1: New York went on an 11-2 run from the 4:21 mark of the first to the 1:56 mark of the opening quarter. Las Vegas responded with a 9-0 run from the 1:37 mark of the first to the 9:30 mark of the second quarter.

Q2: New York went on a 10-2 run from the 9:17 mark of the second to the 7:28 mark of the first half.

Q3: New York went on a 15-6 run from the 7:40 mark of the third to the 1:53 mark of the quarter.

Q4: New York went on a 17-6 run from the 4:17 mark of the fourth to the 1:23 mark of the final quarter.

PLAYER NOTABLES

New York finished with four double-digit scorers in today's game (Jones, Stewart, Laney, Vandersloot).

Jonquel Jones finished with a team-high 27 points on 66.7% (10-15) shooting from the field, including 57.1% (4-7) from deep, eight rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Eighteen of her team-high 27 points came in the first half, and her four threes marked a postseason career-high for made three-pointers.

Breanna Stewart totaled 20 points on 50% (8-16) shooting from the field, a game-high 12 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks--the tenth postseason double-double of her career. Six of her 12 rebounds came in the third quarter, during which she also recorded both her blocks.

Betnijah Laney finished with 12 points on 62.5% (5-8) shooting from the field, including 40% (2-5) from deep, and three rebounds.

Courtney Vandersloot totaled 12 points on 50% (5-10) shooting from the floor, seven rebounds, and six assists.

Sabrina Ionescu added nine points, a postseason career-high-tying 11 assists, three rebounds, and two blocks. Of her game-high 11 assists, a postseason career-high eight of them came in the first half.

For Las Vegas, Kelsey Plum finished with a game-high 29 points, two assists, and two rebounds, while A'ja Wilson recorded a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Check out the New York Liberty Statistics

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