Sabrina Ionescu made a significant impact with 21 points, leading the New York Liberty to an 87-77 victory over the Las Vegas Aces in Game 1 of their WNBA playoff semifinal series. The win delighted basketball superfan Spike Lee, who was courtside at the Barclays Center.
Spike Lee Shows Support
Acclaimed film director Spike Lee, a familiar face at Knicks games, was all in for Ionescu and the Liberty on Sunday. Sporting an Ionescu jersey, he cheered enthusiastically as the Olympic gold medalist sank her shots.
“I remember when he was the first to call me after New York got the No. 1 pick in 2020,” Ionescu shared, reflecting on her long-standing friendship with Lee since her draft out of Oregon. “Every time we meet, I tell him he needs to come to a game. It was so much fun to see him here, cheering us on, interacting with the refs, and chatting with the players.”
Lee is well-known for his lively courtside antics, often trash-talking legendary players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. This time, he exchanged playful banter with Aces guard Kelsey Plum, who remarked on their lighthearted exchange during the third quarter. “I can’t share exactly what we said, but I told him to speak louder. It was all in good fun, and it’s really cool to have him here.”
A Thrilling Rematch
Sunday’s game marked a rematch of last season’s WNBA Finals, where the Aces triumphed in four games to secure their second consecutive championship. This time, however, the Liberty took the initiative in front of their home crowd.
Breanna Stewart, motivated by her past performances, came out strong, scoring 20 of her game-high 34 points in the first half, giving the Liberty an early lead. The Aces, bolstered by Plum and league MVP A’ja Wilson, who scored 24 and 21 points respectively, kept the game competitive.
With the score tight, it was Ionescu who ultimately made the difference, electrifying the crowd with two crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
“We came out with urgency; it’s Game 1, and we wanted to protect our home court,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello commented post-game.
Sun Snag Road Win
In other playoff action, the Connecticut Sun edged the Minnesota Lynx 73-70 in Game 1 of their best-of-five semifinal series. Marina Mabrey led all scorers with 20 points, while Alyssa Thomas came close to a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists.
Lynx star Napheesa Collier, who was recently named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, contributed 19 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and a block in the losing effort.
Sun coach Stephanie White praised her team’s defensive performance, saying, “This franchise has always hung its hat on defense. We needed to disrupt their flow and force them into uncomfortable shots.”
Looking Ahead
Game 2 of the Liberty-Aces series will take place on Tuesday in New York, while the Lynx will look to even their series against the Sun. Lynx forward Bridget Carleton, who scored 17 points in the loss, expressed optimism: “This series is long for a reason. We believe we’ll perform better on Tuesday and hopefully secure a win.”