Breanna Stewart leads the Liberty to victory in Game 2. © Twitter (@TurboLeaks)
The New York Liberty emerged victorious against the Minnesota Lynx in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, securing an 80-66 win that leveled the best-of-five series at one game apiece. The Liberty’s success was driven by a stellar performance from Breanna Stewart, who scored 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds, provided five assists, and set a WNBA Finals record with seven steals.
After suffering a heartbreaking overtime loss in Game 1, the Liberty took control early, leading from start to finish. The team’s offense was bolstered by Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who contributed 20 points, marking a significant turnaround from her quiet five-point outing in the previous game.
The game was played before a franchise-record crowd of 18,046 fans, who witnessed a strong start from the Liberty. Sabrina Ionescu made a notable impact, scoring 14 of her 15 points in the first half. New York built a commanding lead, going up by as many as 17 points in the first half.
The Lynx fought back in the second half, narrowing the gap to just two points at 68-66 after a driving lay-up from Courtney Williams with 3:40 remaining. However, the Liberty responded with a decisive 12-0 run, ignited by Laney-Hamilton’s three-pointer off a no-look pass from Ionescu.
Despite the loss, the Lynx had notable performances from Napheesa Collier (16 points), Williams (15 points), and Alanna Smith (14 points). However, Minnesota’s 20 turnovers proved costly, allowing the Liberty to capitalize with 26 points off those mistakes.
Liberty coach Sandy Brondello praised Laney-Hamilton’s grit and toughness, particularly important given her return from a knee injury earlier this season. Stewart emphasized her desire to change the narrative after Game 1, aiming to challenge every Lynx player throughout the match.
The series shifts to Minnesota for Game 3 on Wednesday night, with both teams vying for the crucial lead in the championship series. Historically, teams that have gone up 2-1 in the WNBA Finals have a strong track record of winning the title, raising the stakes for the upcoming match.
