Sunday’s regular-season finale between the Liberty and Aces felt way too familiar to the heartbreaking WNBA Finals Game 4 loss last year.
Similarly to how the Aces had two starters out for the title-clinching game, they were without soon-to-be three-time MVP winner A’ja Wilson (foot) on Sunday. And just like last year, the Liberty — on their home floor — entered the second-half with a lead.
Sunday’s lead was even greater.
The Liberty relinquished a 20-point lead and trailed, 71-70, with 1:54 remaining in regulation after a Sydney Colson trey. The same Colson that helped execute a Becky Hammon’s masterclass game plan in Game 4 with the team missing Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes.
Then after Breanna Stewart missed both free throws, Sabrina Ionescu drained a 13-footer with 43.1 seconds remaining to put her team ahead, leading to a 75-71 victory. The bucket saved a spiraling Liberty team headed towards an embarrassing, gut-wrenching loss that should’ve been a comfortable win.
Wilson, who entered Barclays Center in a walking boot, wasn’t on the floor to showcase another one of her all-time finishes. So for an attempt to tie the game, Hammon went to Jackie Young, who got her layup attempt swatted by Stewart to finally secure the win.
In any other circumstance, a Liberty regular-season sweep against the team that eliminated them in last year’s WNBA Finals is a reason to celebrate. But the late fumble shows that maybe not all demons inside Barclays Center were exorcised.
For now, the Liberty will take the win but wait for updates on Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. The star two-way guard exited the game in the fourth after appearing to injure her right knee. Laney-Hamilton collided with teammate Jonquel Jones and fell to the ground. The home crowd went silent until Laney-Hamilton walked off on her own power.
Stewart finished with a team-high 21 points and 11 rebounds. Jones contributed 15 points and eight rebounds while Ionescu finished with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Las Vegas’ Kelsey Plum, who helped spearhead the comeback attempt, scored a team-high 25 points in the loss. Young scored 12 points and Alysha Clark contributed 11 points.