After a historic three-point shooting campaign last summer, Sabrina Ionescu dedicated her offseason to enhancing her inside-the-arc game. Her hard work paid off in a crucial moment on Tuesday night as she showcased her dribble-drive skills, leading the New York Aces vs liberty to an 88-84 victory over the Las Vegas Aces in Game 2 of their semifinal series.
“Sabrina was massive down the stretch there,” said Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello.
With this hard-fought win, the Liberty now hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, putting them just one victory away from avenging last year’s Finals loss to the Aces and returning to the championship series for the second consecutive season. Historically, no team has ever come back from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five series since its introduction in 2005.
Ionescu had an impressive performance, finishing with 24 points, nine rebounds, and five assists on 9 of 18 shooting from the field. In doing so, she joined the legendary Diana Taurasi as the only players in WNBA history to record at least 20 points and five assists on 50% shooting in three consecutive playoff games.
As the game neared its final moments, Ionescu made her mark, scoring nine points and dishing out an assist in the last 5:08, ensuring the Liberty maintained their lead after a double-digit advantage. After A’ja Wilson narrowed the score to two points, Ionescu responded with a driving layup, finishing over Wilson’s reach—a play that highlighted her improved resilience compared to last year’s playoffs, where she struggled against physical defenses.
“I have my 3-point shot, but I need to manipulate defenses and get into the paint, which allows for the extra pass,” Ionescu explained earlier this season. “Sometimes the three-point shots won’t go in, and defenses will guard it really well.”
In a pivotal sequence with under two minutes remaining, the Liberty’s lead shrank to one point. After Ionescu missed a three-pointer, Jonquel Jones grabbed the offensive rebound and passed it back to her. Ionescu then drove to create a layup for Breanna Stewart, demonstrating her court vision and playmaking ability. She later hit a tough runner and a pull-up jumper, regaining the lead for the Liberty with 1:15 left on the clock.
“I saw great openings and knew they were good shots for me,” Ionescu said. “I always want to take those shots, make or miss. It’s something I’ve done throughout my career—made a lot of big shots and missed a lot too. My teammates trust me in those moments.”
The improvement in Ionescu’s two-point scoring this season is remarkable. While new additions like Leonie Fiebich and a stronger defense have contributed, Ionescu’s personal development has been a key factor in the Aces vs liberty’s success as they approach the elimination of the defending champions and a potential first title in franchise history.
Despite the positive momentum, Ionescu remains focused on the task ahead. “Being up 2-0 is great, but we haven’t won anything,” she said. “We did what we were supposed to do—protect home court. We’re not satisfied with just two wins; we’re a hungry group.”