Just when things were starting to feel like Game 1, the Liberty rattled off 12 points to put away the Lynx and even the Finals.
Is this really happening again?
Spectators at Game 2 of the WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx might have found themselves wondering that for a moment in the fourth quarter Sunday.
Just like in Game 1 on Thursday, the Liberty jumped to a big lead — 17 points in the second quarter — before the Lynx roared back to make it a two-point game in the fourth, positioning Minnesota to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
But Game 2 had a different ending. After the Lynx won Game 1 in overtime, New York finished off Minnesota on Sunday with 12 unanswered points to seal a 80-66 victory at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and a WNBA Finals-record 7 steals.
Now, the series moves to Minneapolis tied 1-1, with two games guaranteed at Target Center on Wednesday and Friday. The Liberty undoubtedly feel like they’re back in it following a devastating Game 1 collapse. The Lynx might be disappointed they couldn’t recreate their Game 1 magic, but they still stole one game on the road and now have a chance to win a championship on their home floor.
ESPN breaks down the highlights, biggest questions and X factors from Game 2, and look ahead at what to expect when the series continues.
When Minnesota closed to within 66-64 with 5:36 remaining, this one was beginning to feel like Game 1. Minnesota was making another comeback, but Sunday, New York didn’t let the Lynx finish it, instead going on a 14-2 run.
That was a statement: That the Liberty had mentally recovered from letting Game 1 slip away. That they still are a confident bunch in crunch time.
