When the lights are the brightest, Sabrina Ionescu is at her best.
On a night when the number eight seed Atlanta Dream adjusted after their Game 1 loss, and the top seed New York Liberty struggled to replicate most of what went right, Sabrina Ionescu was at the center of everything.
The sweet-shooting guard exploded for a playoff career-high 36 points and the Liberty bucked a slow start en route to 91-82 Game 2 win, advancing to the WNBA semifinals on Wednesday, September 25 (PH time).
The @nyliberty got it done against the Dream, securing a 91-82 DUB in Game 2 🔥 Sabrina Ionescu delivered a career-high performance with 36 PTS and 9 AST, leading her team to victory!
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 25, 2024
NYL will face the winner of LVA-SEA in the Semi-Finals#WelcometotheW | #WNBAPlayoffs… pic.twitter.com/WwVyw2zWhq
Ionescu added nine assists, five triples, and three steals to tie the franchise record for the most points in a series-clinching game.
Sabrina Ionescu WENT OFF in Game 2 vs. Dream 🔥
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 25, 2024
36 PTS (playoff career-high)
12-23 FG
5 3PM
9 AST
Most PTS in a series clinching game in franchise history and onto the semifinals 😤 pic.twitter.com/1xwgnfi00O
The 2020 no. 1 overall pick also tied Cappie Pondexter for the most points by a Liberty player in the postseason, just days after posting a 17-5-5 statline in their Game 1 win.
Jonquel Jones chipped in a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds while Breanna Stewart added 13 markers for the Liberty, who reached the semifinal round for the second consecutive year.
New York erased an early 11-point Atlanta lead and took a slim 65-64 advantage heading to the fourth.
HERE COMES NEW YORK 🗽
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 25, 2024
JJ swats it away and Sabrina drains the three for the lead in Game 2
ATL-NYL on ESPN 📺 | #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/RvFkaywXJP
The Liberty then turned up the notch with a blistering 12-2 run, turning a tight 73-72 scoreline into 85-74 lead off a Leonie Fiebich triple with 3:37 seconds remaining.
L3OOOOOOOOOO 🔥👌 pic.twitter.com/C4sKY8v1OT
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 25, 2024
Atlanta couldn't get closer than seven points the rest of the way as the Liberty took care of business via sweep.
Allisha Gray had a team-high 26 points to lead Atlanta, who are now swept out of the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season.
Rhyne Howard added 19 points, while Tina Charles tallied 14 markers and Naz Hillmon contributed six points with 10 rebounds.
The Dream opened the game with a 28-19 lead on the back of Gray’s perfect start and 14 first-quarter points.
14 PTS and there’s still time left in the 1Q 😳
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 24, 2024
Allisha Gray is locked in, hitting a perfect 4-4 from deep!
ATL-NYL on ESPN 📺 | #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/od3fe3jnlW
After the Liberty rode a 21-8 run to go up 40-36 midway through the second frame, Atlanta responded with a 12-3 surge to enter halftime leading 48-43 after Charles' three-pointer with three seconds left.
Liberty will face the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces for a rematch of the WNBA finals.
