Breanna Stewart dominates with 25 points as Liberty secures 2-1 lead in WNBA semifinals against Sun

New York Liberty takes a 2-1 lead in the WNBA semifinals after defeating the Connecticut Sun 92-81.

The New York Liberty are on the verge of making their first WNBA Finals appearance in over 20 years after defeating the Connecticut Sun 92-81 in Game 3 of their semifinal series. Led by Breanna Stewart's 25 points and 11 rebounds, the Liberty now hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

Stewart, the league's MVP, had struggled with her shooting in the previous games, missing her first 11 three-point attempts. However, she found her rhythm in Game 3, scoring 12 points in the first quarter alone and helping the Liberty establish a commanding 37-16 lead.

The Liberty never relinquished their lead throughout the game, with Betnijah Laney contributing 20 points, Sabrina Ionescu adding 16 points, and Courtney Vandersloot chipping in with 12 points. New York can seal the series victory with a win on Sunday.

Connecticut's Alyssa Thomas had an impressive performance, falling just one rebound short of a triple-double. She finished with 23 points and 14 assists. Tiffany Hayes and Olivia Nelson-Ododa also made significant contributions for the Sun, scoring 16 and 14 points, respectively.

The Liberty had suffered a 78-63 defeat in the series opener but bounced back to win Game 2 with a score of 84-77. In Game 3, they built a lead as large as 22 points in the first half and maintained a 14-point advantage at halftime.

Although the Sun made a push in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 70-61, a timely three-pointer from former Sun player Jonquel Jones extended the Liberty's lead to 80-63, making a comeback difficult for Connecticut.

Jones recorded a double-double for the fifth consecutive playoff game, contributing 10 points and 12 rebounds. The Liberty's strong performance in the first half forced the Sun to expend energy trying to make a comeback.

Connecticut was without guard Rebecca Allen, who missed the game due to illness. Allen had been a key contributor for the Sun in the previous games, scoring 18 points in Game 1 and six points in Game 2.

Both teams are vying for their first WNBA championship, with the Liberty aiming to make their first Finals appearance since 2002 and the Sun hoping to return for a second consecutive season.

Following the victory, Stewart expressed the team's concern for the people of Brooklyn, who were dealing with the aftermath of severe flooding caused by a storm. The team plans to support their community in any way they can.

With the momentum now in their favor, the Liberty are one win away from a historic return to the WNBA Finals.

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