Three takeaways from Liberty's sweep of Dream in WNBA playoffs
Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) shoots during Game 2 against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 at Barclay’s Center. Credit: Ed Murray
Here are three takeaways from the Liberty’s two-game sweep of the Atlanta Dream in the opening round of the WNBA playoffs:
1. It sure doesn’t hurt when Sabrina Ionescu’s shot is falling.
Ionescu went around high-fiving the media on the way out of the interview room at Barclays Center after Tuesday night’s clinching 91-82 win.
Just trying to spread the magic. Spike Lee had high-fived her during the third quarter.
“I felt like New York was just like injected into my veins,” Ionescu said, smiling.
“She was like Spider-Woman or something,” Jonquel Jones said.
Whatever it was, just about everything was falling for Ionescu in the second half. She was particularly good at getting downhill.
She shot 8-for-11 after halftime, including 2-for-2 on threes, and posted 23 of her postseason career-high 36 points, matching Cappie Pondexter’s franchise postseason record.
Ionescu had gone 7-for-37 overall, including 4-for-19 on threes, over the final three games of the regular season. But she went 17-for-34, including 8-for-18 on threes, in the Atlanta series.
2. Jones was a force down low.
The 6-6 center dominated inside in Game 2, delivering 20 points and 13 rebounds. Her play also helped the backcourt.
“Obviously, JJ establishing herself down low played a huge role in our guards being able to get downhill,” Ionescu said, “because they couldn’t come help off of her, because we were just going to dump off and get it to her or she was going to get [offensive] boards.”
3. Now comes the hard part.
The semifinals against Las Vegas will be a rematch of the 2023 Finals. The Aces won that series in four games.
The two-time defending champs, who feature three-time MVP A’ja Wilson and a terrific backcourt of Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, owned the homecourt advantage last season. The Liberty will see what they can do with the homecourt advantage this time.
The Liberty swept the three games against the Aces this season, including winning twice at Las Vegas.
