Game 3 is critical for the Liberty with WNBA Finals tied at 1

It would have been a lot to ask of the Liberty to go solve the problem of being down two games to none and still winning a best-of-five series, especially considering that problem has never been solved in the 28-season history of the WNBA.

So they’re thankful that isn’t their problem.

“We understand how important Game 3 is,” Jonquel Jones said after their 80-66 victory over the Lynx on Sunday to even the Finals at 1-1. “But the importance of Game 3 wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t win Game 2. We’d really have our backs against the wall then.”

The Liberty managed to withstand Minnesota’s attempt at a second straight XL-sized comeback and pulled away in front of the 18,000-plus packed into Barclays Center.

Now they will target Game 3 on Wednesday and Game 4 on Friday at Target Center. Win them both and the Liberty will own their first championship. Split and it will come down to Game 5 on Sunday at Barclays. Lose them both and, well, the Liberty aren’t thinking that way.

Jones called this next one “crucial.” She cited the high percentage of Game 3 winners in WNBA history that have gone on to take any best-of-five series after splitting the first two. That number is 61.1% — 11 out of 18 teams.

And the idea that it’s on the road doesn’t faze the Liberty.

They’re playing a team that matched them for doing the best home work in the league during the regular season. Both went 16-4. But the Liberty were alone on top for doing road work, also going 16-4, although they dropped their only game at Minnesota.

“I think we embrace it,” Breanna Stewart said. “We like it when it’s loud. We like it when it’s difficult. … But [it’s] just continuing to stick together.

“Also, the biggest thing behind it is not getting too high or too low. Things are going to seem bigger than what they are because they’re playing at home. … But, yeah, we like to go on the road."

The Liberty liked seeing Stewart bounce back from missing a free throw for the win in Game 1 by contributing 21 points, eight rebounds, a Finals-record seven steals and five assists. And the two-time MVP helped limit 2024 MVP runner-up and former UConn teammate Napheesa Collier to 16 points.

They also liked seeing Betnijah Laney-Hamilton finally lend a hand offensively. She had been struggling with a knee that needed surgery in July and was averaging 5.9 points in the postseason. But she felt better in Game 2 and nailed four threes and scored 20.

“When she plays like that, we’re a different team,” Courtney Vandersloot said.

The Lynx weren’t happy with how they played in Brooklyn. They didn’t take their first lead until 5.5 seconds remained in regulation in Game 1 and never led in Game 2.

“We have to come out playing better than we did in [the first] two games,” Collier said. “It’s hard, but we’re both competing for a championship. You have to play with a level of desperation from the very beginning.”