BROOKLYN, N.Y. – A record 18,046 fans crowded the Barclay Center for Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, the most fans in Barclay Center history, to see the New York Liberty evened the series 1-1 in a 80-66 win.
Liberty forward Breanna Stewart and wing Betnijah Laney-Hamilton finished with 20 points each for Game 2, in the WNBA Finals. Stewart also added a WNBA Final record seven steals.
New York was on fire from the first quarter after shooting 13-of-18 from the floor on 10 assists, leading Lynx 31-21.
Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu scored 12 of her 15 points in the first quarter and ended with five assists and four rebounds. Ionescu surpassed Crystal Robinson for second on the Liberty all-time post season scoring.
Stewart was on fire, as she passed Chelsea Gray and Deanna Nolan for ninth on the WNBA Finals field-goals and passed Diana Taurasi for the second-most 20-pointer games in the WNBA.
Stewart is now seventh all-time in WNBA Finals points (276), just behind Jonquel Jones, who is sixth all-time with 277.
The X-factor was Laney-Hamilton, who gave it all considering she isn’t 100 percent, most of the season, in dealing with her knee injury. She broke some records in Game 2 also.
The significance of Laney-Hamilton Sundays performance was spectacular.
Prior to Sunday’s game Laney only had one playoff game scoring in double digits and that was against Atlanta Dream.
Game 2 of WNBA Finals was a must win for the Liberty in order to stay in the series, and they didn’t disappoint.
Now, the series moves to Minneapolis tied 1-1, with the next two games at Target Center on Wednesday and Friday. The Lynx have a chance to win a championship on their home court.
Lynx forward Napheesa Collier led her team in scoring 16 points and eight rebounds, three assists and four steals, passing Chelsea Gray and A’Ja Wilson for fourth most points in post season.
Lynx guard Courtney Williams recorded 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting, and tied her career post-season high with eight assists.
This article also appears on our sister site, The SPECMagazine here