New York Liberty Ends 21-Year WNBA Finals Drought Slipping Past Connecticut Sun to Set Up Super Powers Battle Against Defending Champion Las Vegas Aces

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The offseason stunning transactions concocted by WNBA New York general manager Jonathan Kolb bore fruit here Sunday afternoon as a recipe for success in a tightly-fought game four semifinals battle in which the Connecticut Sun got bedeviled by the visitors’ main ingredients for an 87-84 victory in the Mohegan Sun Arena that completed a three-game run following a home loss in the opener.

The outcome ended a 21-year finals drought for the second-seeded Liberty making the preseason forecasts of a battle of super teams a reality that begins Sunday when the New Yorkers open the best-of-five series out West against the top-seed and defending champion Las Vegas Aces at 3 p.m. on ABC.

The timing is right on the money for the New York women who take the local and national stage at a time when traditional Metro sports teams such as baseball’s Yankees and Mets and football’s Jets and Giants are either off the competitive radar or heading there quickly.

“The fact that the Liberty haven’t been to a final since 2002 is wild, and to be able to have that and know that we have the entire city behind us is something that’s really, really special,” said Breanna Stewart, the first MVP in New York’s history, but not her first, who had 27 points and combined with former Sun and George Washington star Jonquel Jones, who combined with Stewie for of the 20 of the Liberty’s fourth quarter points.

Philadelphia may not have a WNBA team nor likely to be a recipient in the coming league expansion but there is a stake on New York with Temple coach Diane Richardson being Jone’s guardian and Betnijah Laney, who previously was on the front end of the Liberty rebuild, being a former Rutgers star and the daughter of former Cheyney standout Yolanda Laney, a multi hall of famer.

Laney in this one had 21 points and seven rebounds and has been a force in the playoffs.

“We’re not satisfied with everything, but I am happy, especially from where we started,” Laney said. “Being knocked out in the first round every time and now we’re here with everyone and we’re in the finals.”

Still, it was Jones with an overall 25 points, four blocks, and 15 rebounds who down the stretch deprived her former team from winning and forcing a game five back in New York.

Jones, who got 20 of her 25 points and 8 of her 15 points after the half, in the final minute with the Sun in their fifth straight semifinals keeping their fans’ hopes alive, was 5-for-6 from the line. And also  had two rebounds off Sun missed shots and with the Liberty up by just three points stole a Connecticut inbound pass and got to the line right after to sink a pair of free throws.

Jones has six double doubles in the playoffs, tying her for the most.

She’s been to three finals in the past five years, including a year ago on the losing Sun, who fell here to Las Vegas, which won its first title.

The ACES eliminated the Dallas Wings Friday night in a sweep sending rookie Maddy Siegrist off the her alma mater at Villanova, where she will work in marketing this winter following setting every local and by extension Wildcats record imaginable resulting in being the overall No. 3 pick last April by Dallas.

“I just remember a lot of emotions,” Jones said of her last game a year ago in a Sun uniform. “Obviously disappointment and all of that. And I think it’s a blessing of sports to be able to win with this team and be able to be going into Finals, and having the opportunity again.”

Besides Laney, having also previously gained Sabrina Ionescu out of Oregon as the top overall draft pick, the first big move in February for the Liberty was acquiring Jones in a trade and then gaining Stewart, who was part of the Seattle powerhouse that won the 2020 title, as a free agent, brining her home to her native state having grown up in Syracuse.

She was also the four-time MVP of the NCAA Final Four leading UConn to those run of titles and was twice named WNBA Finals MVP on Seattle champions.

New York also picked up Chicago point guard assists ace Courtney Vandersloop.

“I think it’s going to be a really competitive series and hopefully more and more people turn their eyes into the game and we can continue to grow it,” looking to the Vegas series said New York coach Sandy Brondello, who won titles with the Phoenix Mercury. 

Brondello is a former WNBA player as is Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon, who Brondello also coached. The Aces have their own former MVP in A’ja Wilson, the former South Carolina great, who was again in the hunt this year. Both Wilson and Stewart were overall No. 1 picks.

Las Vegas’ Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum are also former number one picks.

New York and Las Vegas split the season series, the Liberty gaining more confidence with wins in August, including the Commissioner’s Cup, which does not count in the standings.

It was a tough day for Connecticut, who brought in Stephanie White after Curt Miller left a long run and ultimately was hired by the Los Angeles Sparks.

The Sun,  picked seventh in the preseason in places, had a double digit lead early in the game but Stewart’s shot as time expired gave New York a one-point lead at the half.

After New York seemed to take control Connecticut rallied and held a brief one-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Tiffany Hayes had 15 points, off the bench DiJonai Carrington had 14 points, Tyasha Harris had 10 points, while among the starters, Tiffany Hayes had 15 points, DeWanna Bonner had 12, while Natisha Hiedman, who in the offseason heads to Penn State as an assistant coach, had 7.

But it was exceptionally bittersweet for former Maryland star Alyssa Thomas, who after having a record six triple doubles in the season, had her seventh with 17 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists.

“I had a season that you’ve never seen in this league and probably won’t see again unless I do it,” said Thomas, a native of Harrisburg.

“Let’s be reasonable. Triple doubles, the most double doubles in league history. We’re talking about league records.; So for me, I have a lot to be proud of.”