The New York Liberty may have finally broken free from the Las Vegas Aces, thanks to a remarkable Game 2 performance by Sabrina Ionescu. However, similar to last year’s WNBA Finals, they need one more victory to feel secure about their success. This is why Ionescu’s straightforward message to the locker room after securing a 2-0 series lead in the WNBA Playoffs resonated strongly.
“Being up 2-0 is fantastic,” Ionescu said, according to WNBA reporter Khristina Williams. “But we haven’t won anything yet. Everyone here understands that. We did what we were supposed to do, which was to defend our home court. It’s not like we’re congratulating ourselves. We’re not celebrating or discussing how pleased we are. This isn’t our goal. We’re not content with just winning two games at home.”
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“We are a hungry group,” Ionescu remarked. “We’re happy with how we performed today. We fought hard. They came out swinging and played aggressively. It was great to see how we stuck together and chipped away at their lead, making big plays when we needed to. Now we have a fantastic opportunity to take the first game on their home court, and we’re not underestimating them.”
Ionescu finished the game with 24 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. She became only the second player, after Diana Taurasi, to achieve at least 20 points and five assists while shooting over 50% in three consecutive WNBA Playoff games, according to ESPN.
The Liberty will continue to rely on Ionescu, who delivered as expected, as noted by Yahoo Sports’ Cassandra Negley.
“My teammates always support me,” Ionescu said. “They trust that I can step up in those moments, and they know I’m built for it.”