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Prior to Tuesday's matchup, Washington Mystics guard Natasha Cloud knew this was a must win for the Mystics. Prior to game three, Cloud stated, "she will be guarding Sabrina Ionescu for 40 minutes," and the Mystics defense was "lazy." Throughout one of the most intense games of the year, Natasha Cloud backed up her talk with a career night, and the Liberty remained poised throughout a chaotic second half. Cloud finished with 33 points, four steals, and nine rebounds, on 5-7 three-point shooting. Sabrina Ionescu added 11 points, two steals, five assists, and nine rebounds, on 4-11 shot attempts.
Prior to the matchup, both Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart spoke to the media about the critical matchup. It's apparent the two players knew this game wasn't going to be an easy task. When asked what it will take to close out this series, Stewart calmly stated:
"To keep our emotions in check. Know that D.C. [Washington Mystics] is obviously going to be literally fighting for their season tonight, and know that if we can control the pace, control the boards, really play how we want to defensively, everything will open up offensively," said Stewart. In this case, Stewart was 100 percent right. The Mystics fought for their season until the final seconds of overtime. Through the fourth quarter, both teams were tied four times, and there were five lead changes in ten minutes.
In 38 minutes, the New York Liberty were able to keep Mystics star Elena Delle Donne in check. In 38 minutes, the forward had 11 points, and was held to 4-16 shooting. Delle Donne, battling injuries all season, averaged 16.7 points in the regular season, and was held to zero percent three-point shooting in game three. "Yeah, just having an attention to her, making sure we know where she is on the court, pick and roll coverages, me and Stewie [Breanna Stewart]," Jonquel told the press.
Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones took charge
No. 30 is a true professional, and keeping their emotions in check was more vital than ever. Not her best shooting performance, Breanna Stewart finished with a team high 27 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and two steals. Up by one point, with 1:13 remaining in the fourth quarter, Stewart had the two biggest plays of the game, next to Jonquel Jones. No. 30 got up for a block, and with 45 seconds to go, the forward drilled an 11-foot turnaround shot. Her big time shot put the Liberty up 74-71, until Brittney Sykes responded with a 24 foot three-point jump shot.
Shortly after Stewart made the 11-foot jumper to extend the lead to three, Jonquel Jones had a momentous block on Natasha Cloud's driving layup attempt. It was then, Jones turned the ball over, and racked up her fourth personal foul of the game, sending Cloud to the free-throw line. Tied 74 all, Cloud made both free-throws, despite the electric crowd at the Barclays. With 27.3 seconds remaining, Sandy Brondello formulated a plan of attack, around both players. Given New York finished 4-23 from the three-point line, and 0-7 in the third quarter, the game plan was to attack inside. After a missed driving layup by Breanna Stewart, Natasha Cloud fouled, which sent Sabrina Ionescu to the line in the bonus.
"Like I said, you sometimes, you have to find a way, what's the best way the win. They are [Stewart and Jones] the easy ones at the rim, and JJ did a few reps from high, you know a little iso at the top, that's all JJ," coach Brondello told the media post-game. Jones finished with six points in the third, and Stewart with six in overtime. New York bullied Washington in the paint, 52-42, and monopolized on the rebounds, 41-38. Out of the six shots taken in the paint during the final quarter, Jones and Stewart accounted for four of them.
Jonquel Jones is a former MVP for a reason. Down 76-74, No. 35 grabbed an essential rebound, after Ionescu missed both free throws. From there, Jones was sent to the line, after being fouled by Myisha Hines-Allen. With 11.4 seconds to go, Jones made two necessary rebounds, which tied the game. With the season on the line, Washington had a chance to win the game. Due to miscommunication, Cloud overthrew the ball to Sykes on the inbound. The fans went into frenzy, and the ballgame went into overtime at the Barclays.
"I had to redeem myself after turning the ball over," Jones said after the victory. "Honestly, there was no other option but to make the free throws. Just going into my free-throw routine, just saying what I normally say to myself when I shoot free-throws." Laughing it off, Jones stated "I say one, two, spin, bend, shoot, every time."
"The free throw, the free throw rebound from JJ-- that was a missed shot we knew we had to miss to get that, and her to knock down two really big shots, that was big for us, " said Brondello after the game.
The New York Liberty and Washington Mystics meet again in overtime
Multiple players of the New York liberty have insisted that the Washington Mystics play much better than a No. 7 seed. With the regular season series split 2-2, the Mystics defeated the Liberty 90-88 in the final matchup of the season, thanks to Brittney Sykes buzzer beater. Tied 76-76, Washington had five minutes in overtime to keep their season alive. With a champion winning coach, the Liberty were able to adjust to their opponent's defense, which ultimately secured the victory.
Natasha Cloud wasn't playing around when she said she would play a full 40 minutes on Sabrina Ionescu. In sudden death overtime, both teams battled, and the score remained close up until the four second mark. Guards Courtney Vandersloot and Sabrina Ionescu were bottled up a majority of the night, which forced Brondello to put the ball in the hands of Breanna Stewart.
"Because the guards, I mean they just made Sloot [Vandersloot] and Sabrina [Ionescu]---it was a tough night, so we just put the ball back in Stewies [Stewart] hands, " Brondello told the press after the win.
JJ put on a SHOW at @barclayscenter
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 20, 2023pic.twitter.com/lJz6gcZSWb
Jonquel Jones was able to dominate in the paint the entire night, especially with the mismatch on Hines-Allen. Given the perimeter was locked up, Stewart was able to bring Delle Donne out of the paint, and Jonquel Jones was able to iso her way to the basket. With her six-foot six frame, Jones had the size and strength to attack Washington's weakness, which was defense in the high and low post. Through four quarters and overtime, the Liberty had 23 made shots in the paint, which was uncharacteristic for New York, who led the league in three-point percentage. New York was able to show how impactful this team can be. They are very much as much of a threat outside, as they are inside.
REAL SIMPLE. @jus242 pic.twitter.com/J1TdiIO8cj
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 19, 2023
Several plays were run with Stewart running the point, with both her and Jones at the top of the key. With Stewart as the primary ball handler, strong screens made by Jonquel Jones, opened up opportunities and back door cuts for her teammates. Four of Courtney Vandersloot's eight points erupted in overtime, which included a vital back door cut, and 20-foot jumper. with 18 seconds remaining, Jonquel Jones redeemed herself with a steal, after turning the ball over. Breanna Stewart's six made free-throws led the Liberty to a 90-85 overtime victory over the Mystics.
Betnijah Laney is the definition of New York "grit"
With the abundance of talent on this New York roster, there's Betnijah Laney. Proven a true x-factor on both sides of the ball, Laney has established herself as a tough, physical player, that gives her all, night in and night out, regardless of the matchup. In two post season matchups against Washington, No. 44 averaged 19 points, five rebounds, and two assists. In Tuesday's victory, the forward finished with 19 points, one steal, three assists, and two rebounds. She hit a pivotal three point shot with 2:18 to go in the fourth, to keep the Liberty alive.
What the box score often doesn't indicate is her tough defensive matchups against star players. Laney was often matched with Natasha Cloud, who had a career night with 33 points. At times, she had to guard the mismatch on Delle Donne. Passing up the three-point shot, Laney had several drives to the basket, showing full physicality and toughness. Her acrobatic back door reverse lay ins have become a staple of her game, and really emphasize her multidimensional game play.
Bucket B was in full effect tonight
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 20, 2023
The turning point in the matchup started with Betnijah Laney. Knowing the perimeter was heavily guarded by Ariel Atkins, No. 44 furiously barged into the paint, and knocked down a nine-foot fadeaway shot on Atkins. With zero hesitation, Laney set the tone again in the first quarter, and played forcefully until the end of regulation. When Ionescu, or other players are locked up, look for Laney to always play a factor.
"Doing what we need to do and in the right way. If someone's having a tough night, we always say, how can you still impact the game," Brondello said following the win. With Sabrina Ionescu held the 11 points, the guard was impactful in several key areas, including the rebounds. Ionescu had two steals, nine rebounds, and five assists. With Vandersloot guarded heavily, she finished with ten assists.
Coach Brondello discussed those final plays, and her decision to keep the ball away from Courtney Vandersloot and Sabrina Ionescu. "It's not all about scoring, in some times with Sabrina, it was more like just keep her off the ball. In the end, don't even come near the ball, you're [Ionescu] a decoy right now, and sloot [ Vandersloot]. "
"I thought B [Betnijah Laney], JJ [Jonquel Jones] and Stewie [Breanna Stewart] really just stayed composed and they made really big shots-- great players making great plays," said Brondello. "Hats off to Washington. They've had a tough year with all [of] their injuries. This is a three seed in my opinion, you know, the way that they competed tonight, when's the last time you've seen someone play that hard?"
Post game, Breanna Stewart said the game definitely "got spicy." Along with a physical matchup, the Liberty had several shooting woes and costly turnovers. Overall, New York shot 17.4 percent from the three-point, and 42 percent from the field. Not always pretty, they found a way to sweep the Washington Mystics. With the original story line focused on Cloud and Ionescu, we can't forget Cloud's unbelievable performance. However, New York proves they can win in multiple ways.
The New York Liberty will face the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA Playoffs Semifinals. The best of five games, the Liberty will have home court advantage for the first two games. New York will play Connecticut on Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. ET, at the Barclays Center.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and a Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.
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Tonight, is Game 2 of the first-round WNBA playoffs between the New York Liberty (1-0, 1-0 Home) and the Washington Mystics (0-1, 0-1 Away). The second of three games, New York hasn't won a playoff series since 2015 against Washington, and will look to bring the first WNBA Championship to New York. With four starters with points in double-figures, the Liberty sealed a Game 1 90-75 victory over the Washington Mystics.
Scoring 29 points and seven three pointers, Sabrina Ionescu drilled a final three with less than 25 seconds to go in regulation. It was an overall physical game between the two teams, and Jonquel Jones finished with her 11th career postseason double-double (20 points, 12 rebounds). Washington struggled in the second half, shooting 22 percent from the three. Myisha Hines-Allen had playoff career high 21 points, and eight rebounds.
In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, player prop bets, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 7 p.m. ET, at the Barclays Center, located in Brooklyn, New York. If you're Betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on ESPN. For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.
It’s time to put on for NY
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 18, 2023
Don’t miss game 2 of Liberty vs. Mysticshttps://t.co/6UhApw12XX#SEAFOAMSZN pic.twitter.com/lASDJgi8wK
WNBA Game 2 Odds:
New York Liberty vs. Washington Mystics O 162.5 Points (-115)
Game 2⃣ Injury Report: pic.twitter.com/UU3lxhgSnV
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 18, 2023
The New York Liberty defeated the Washington Mystics 90-75 in game one of the WNBA playoffs first-round. Best of three games, the Liberty will look to move on to the semi-finals and take advantage of home court. In Game 1, the over hit with a total of 165 points, and the Liberty covered the -9.5-point spread.
I am reluctant to bet on the spread, as Washington covered in all of the regular season matchups. Given this is a possible elimination game for the Mystics, this game will either be a defensive showdown, or a shootout. We saw Washington have a great first quarter against the Liberty and were ultimately shut down in the second half of the game. Out of eight teams in the playoffs, both the Mystics and the Liberty are tied for last place in terms of pace (91.2).
In Friday's game against New York, Washington finished the night shooting 22.7 percent from three-point, and 41.3 percent from the field. With each team attempting 75 field goal attempts, New York shot 35 percent from three, and 44 percent from the field. For Washington, Natasha Cloud struggled from the field, shooting 1-8 with four points. For New York, MVP candidate Breanna Stewart shot just 3-16 with 10 points. The Washington Mystics shutdown New York's passing lane and held Courtney Vandersloot and company to 18 total assists.
Why the over will hit
Game one hit over 163 points, which included struggles on both sides. With limited assists, and Breanna Stewart ceased, New York managed to score 90 points. In the past ten games, the Liberty are averaging 93 points, and the Mystics 79. Natasha Cloud, guard for the Mystics, stated she "will be guarding Sabrina Ionescu for 40 minutes," and that the Mystics defense was "lazy." (Kareem Copeland, Washington post). Through the month of August and post all-star break, New York ranked first in offensive rating, and have a multitude of scoring options alongside Ionescu. What makes New York so elite are their options on the weak and strong side of the ball, in addition to strong screens by Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart.
The Mystics are former 2019 WNBA Champions, and still retain several pieces of their championship roster. Still without Toliver and Austin due to injuries, they will continue to have less depth. Both sides didn't shoot their best, and the Liberty placed until the last seconds, when Ionescu chucked her seventh three pointer of the game. The Washington Mystics have hit two straight overs, and New York four straight games over 161 points. Five of their six matchups, including the regular and post season hit the over. The only game that hit the under was on May 19.
Both the Washington Mystics and the New York Liberty ranked top five in defensive rating, and perimeter defense. Look for New York to create several screens, to get open looks on the perimeter. In four regular season games against the Mystics, the Liberty averaged 84.3 points, and shot 31.3 percent from the perimeter. For the Mystics, they averaged 80.5 points, and shot 33.6 percent from downtown.
Season Statistics & Betting Trends
New York Liberty
- New York Liberty: 4-1 in their last 5 games.
- 9-1 in their last 10 games.
- ATS Record: 19-21-0
- O/U Record: 23-17-0
- 2-3 ATS in their last 5 games.
- 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games.
- O/U is 4-1 in the last 5 games.
- O/U: 7-3 in the last 10 games.
- 2nd in Offensive Rating (109.6)
- 1st in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (118.4)
- 3rd in Defensive Rating (99.4)
- 4th in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (98.7)
- 2nd in Points Per Game (89.2)
- 5th in Pace: 96.56
- Opponent Points Per Game: 80.6 (4th)
- Three-Point Percentage: 37.4 (1st)
- Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 35.3 % (4th)
- Rebounds Per Game: 37.9 (2nd)
- New York ATS won last 10 games: Phoenix (-12.5), Minnesota (-9), Las Vegas (-2), Connecticut (-7.5), Chicago (-9), Washington (-9.5)
1 down. See y’all Tuesday
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023#LIGHTITUPNYL
pic.twitter.com/NAZCzRleRz
Washington Mystics
- Washington Mystics: 2-3 in their last 5 games.
- 4-6 in their last 10 games.
- ATS Record: 18-21-1
- O/U Record: 15-24-0
- 2-3 ATS in their last 5 games.
- 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
- O/U is 3-2 in the last 5 games.
- O/U: 4-6 in the last 10 games.
- 7th in Offensive Rating (99.9)
- 5th in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (98.7)
- 5th in Defensive Rating (100.3)
- 8th in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (118.4)
- 8th in Points Per Game (80.5)
- 6th in Pace: 96.40
- Opponent Points Per Game: 80.9 (5th)
- Three-Point Percentage: 33.6 (7th)
- Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 22.7 % (8th)
- Rebounds Per Game: 32.3 (10th)
- Washington: ATS won last 10 games: Las Vegas (+10, +10), Minnesota (-7.5), Phoenix (-7), New York (+10.5).
Give her 20
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 16, 2023
Myisha Hines-Allen has a new playoff career high#BallOnOurTerms | @Mooks_22 pic.twitter.com/RlPZddQAkP
Head-to-head stats: Liberty vs. Mystics
Season Matchups:
Game 1: Washington 80, New York 64 (Washington +2.5, under 163.5)
Game 2: New York 89, Washington 88 OT (Washington +7, over 161.5)
Game 3: New York 96, Washington 87 (Washington +10, over 163.5)
Game 4: Washington 90, New York 88 (Washington +10.5, over 162.5)
Playoffs:
Game 1: New York 90, Washington 75 (New York -9.5, over 163)
- New York and Washington split the series 2-2
- The Mystics are 3-0 ATS vs. the Liberty this season.
- Game Points (AVG) last 10 matchups: 158
- New York average points last 10 games: 93
- Washington average points last 10 games: 79
Tweets by BallislifeBetsFINISH THEMMMM
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023@sabrina_i20 pic.twitter.com/FyFIya7ClB
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On Friday night, the New York Liberty defeated the Washington Mystics in dominant fashion after a sluggish start. The No. 1 Seed was awarded home court advantage for the first two games, in a best of three playoff matchups. The Washington Mystics, led by Coach Eric Thibault, finished as the seven-seed, and were plagued by several injuries throughout the season.
Prior to the matchup, Sabrina Ionescu appeared at the podium with teammate Courtney Vandersloot. The guard shed light on the importance of staying locked in during the playoffs. " We all understand that we have to play Liberty basketball for 40 minutes," Ionescu told the media. " We're playing against a great team. We don't view [the Mystics] as a seventh seed. They're a great basketball team that have battled us all year long. We have to take these games as seriously as we can, and I know that we will."
The Washington Mystics won the WNBA title in 2019 and retain several players from that championship roster. Vandersloot, who signed with the Liberty this offseason, described their tough matchup with the Mystics, and why this series won't be a walk in the park. " Washington is a really good team and they kind of struggled with injuries. I think that's the only reason they are the seventh seed," said Vandersloot. " They have great players, they've played together for a long time. This is really similar to their 2019 championship roster."
Washington took the early lead in the first quarter
Ionescu and Vandersloot couldn't have said it any better. In ten first quarter minutes, the Mystics attacked the Liberty's weaknesses on defense. Guard Brittney Sykes finished the quarter with seven points, including mid-range shots, and looks off screens. In an all-around team effort, Washington finished shooting 40 percent from three, and over 57 percent from the field. Natasha Cloud grabbed six rebounds, and the Mystics outrebounded the Liberty, 10-7. Towards the end of the first, Cloud nearly threw the ball across court, and found Delle Donne for the bucket. Washington took advantage of the mismatch and finished with 14 points in the paint.
We'll take that
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 15, 2023@arielatkinssvn with the theft, @Mooks_22 with the bucket
#BallOnOurTerms pic.twitter.com/BERzlKhWaV
Betnijah Laney sets the tone for New York
New York Liberty's Betnijah Laney is the definition of "New York grit." With Breanna Stewart off to a slow start, Laney kept the Liberty in contention with eight first quarter points, which included multiple three pointers. With the help of Jonquel Jones, Betnijah was able to utilize screens and create her own shot. At times, we saw Laney take charge, and had several acrobatic lay ins at the basket. On the defensive side, No. 44 played tough perimeter defense on Sykes, including occasional mismatches down below against Elena Delle Donne. Laney finished with 19 points, and playoff career-high eight rebounds.
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023
’s just that girl
Post game, Breanna Stewart spoke with the media, and the importance of having Betnijah Laney as a teammate. "We've been preparing all week, and really since Sunday. When [Betnijah] sets the tone like that offensively and defensively, the rest of us kind of followed." said Stewart. " B [Betnijah] was here before me. The fact that she never stops playing, obviously being aggressive on both ends, taking pride in things defensively. Her grit and her toughness is one of a kind."
The Liberty find their stride in the second half
For the month of August, the New York Liberty led the WNBA in both offensive and defensive rating. New York also led in total assist percentage and assists to turnover ratio per game. The Liberty, who averaged a league leading 24.1 assists per game, were held to two assists in the first quarter, and only seven by the half.
New York was much more efficient in the second quarter, despite some defensive breakdowns in the paint, and troubles against the pick and roll. Hines-Allen saw several looks in the lane, especially, with weak pick and roll coverage by the Liberty. Myisha Hines-Allen, of the Mystics, had a career-high 21 playoff points.
At the half.
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023
Collectively, New York held Washington to 13 points in the second quarter on 5-20 field goal, and 1-4 three-point shooting. Offensively, Brondello's team struggled, finishing just 2-10 from the three, and 9-22 from the field in the second quarter. A majority of their points came in the paint, including mismatches with Jonquel Jones over Ariel Atkins. Jones totaled 20 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, which marked her 11th career postseason double double.
The turning point for New York
For a moment, it looked like a game of volleyball. Betnijah Laney somehow, found herself in the low post, putting up a last second bucket with the tipped assist by Breanna Stewart. With the buzzer beater, the eruption could be felt by fans and personnel inside the Barclays Center. From here on out, the momentum began to shift, and the Liberty headed into the halftime locker room. New York only continued to shine from this point forward.
"Yeah, I mean, plays like that there was momentum. It just gives us some good energy, something to feed off of, and being able to have that play go into the half, knowing we did something well, and feel good coming out, you know, it just fuels us. "said Laney post-game.
Buzzer beater B
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023pic.twitter.com/9g075tIMts
Momentum strikes for the New York Liberty
Some would argue that momentum doesn't exists. In this case, New York gained momentum, and their shots started to fall. Much like the second quarter, the Liberty held the Mystics to 15.4 three-point percentage in the second half and Elena Delle Donne, to three points. Jonquel Jones continued to attack inside and found the mismatches. With Delle Donne on Ionescu, Breanna Stewart found her game with 10 points in the back half of the matchup. New York then went on a 21-9 run in the third, and 8-0 in the fourth.
New York showed toughness and physicality a majority of the game. Laney continued to battle amongst multiple defenders in the paint, while Jones and Stewart racked up trips to the free-throw line. Defensively, New York was all over the entire court, fighting for each and every possession. Kayla Thornton, Courtney Vandersloot, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu---all of these players battled for possessions on the ground, even when up by points. By the end of regulation, New York finished with a 35.3 three-point percentage, including hitting 5-10 in the third quarter. The Liberty were able to capitalize on second chance points, as well as rebounds.
Breanna Stewart with an off game, and the Liberty limited to 18 assists, New York still held on for the victory. That in itself is a clear statement about this squad-- they play hard and play team ball. With the Washington Mystics shutting down a majority of New York's passing lanes, the Liberty learned how to adjust, and that's what championship contenders do.
Sabrina Ionescu makes history
HER.
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023pic.twitter.com/yTxe9VHSWX
Notoriously known for giving up big leads in the past, up by 12 by the end of the third, New York didn't take their foot off the gas. Sabrina Ionescu, with 9 points at the half, finished with 12th points in the final quarter, and 29 by the end of regulation. Finishing 10-18, and 7-13 from the three, Ionescu finished with a career-high 29 points in the playoffs. No. 20 showed zero hesitation, both driving to the basket, and hitting shots from downtown. With 1.7 seconds left to go in the third, up by ten points, Ionescu fiercely drove to the basket, and put up a buzzer beating layup.
SAB
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023BEING LIKE THAT @sabrina_i20 pic.twitter.com/bsxrcgmGaG
Ionescu hit seven three-pointers, including back-to-back shots in the final quarter. The crowd exploded each and every time No. 20 hit a bucket. Several celebrities attended the event, including Billie Jean, King, Sue Bird, Malala Yousafzai, along with others. With less than 25 seconds remaining, Ionescu drilled her seven and final three, which sent fans into a frenzy, securing the 90-75 victory. Her seventh three-pointer broke the record for the three-point field goals made by a New York Liberty single player in the playoffs. The guard passed Vickie Johnson and Cappie Pondexter on the all-time list.
FINISH THEMMMM
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023
No. 20 wasn't happy with the referees
Scoring the final three points for the Liberty, the guard chimed in post-game. "Let me not get fined, " said Ionescu. "I would say some of those threes were for the refs."
In the last regular season matchup against the Washington Mystics, the New York liberty lost to a buzzer beater, which was scored by Brittney Sykes.
"Understanding what that felt like last game, losing on a buzzer at our home court and understanding what we had to do adjustment wise, to not allow that to happen and playoff basketball is different," Ionescu told reporters." "It's 0-0 for everyone and we had to take care of business and not let these opportunities pass by us when we do have home court advantage. "
The New York Liberty will take on the Washington Mystics for Game 2 on Sept 19. With one more Victory, the Liberty could move onto the semifinals.
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]]>The official bracket for the 2023 #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 10, 2023
First Round begins Wednesday September 13th at 8pm/ET on ESPN2 #MoreThanGame pic.twitter.com/Jc90UfZUKt
WNBA Championship Title Odds
2023 WNBA Playoffs: Liberty vs. Mystics
(2) New York Liberty (32-8) vs. (7) Washington Mystics (19-21)
Game 1: Sept 15, Washington at New York, 7:30 p.m. ET/ ESPN2
Game 2: Sept 19, Washington at New York, 7 p.m. ET/ ESPN
Game 3: Sept. 22, New York at Washington, TBD /ESPN (If necessary)
Season Matchups
*The Series is split 2-2*
Game 1:?Washington 80, New York 64 (Washington +2.5, under 163.5).
Game 2:?New York 89, Washington 88 OT (Washington +7, over 161.5)
Game 3:?New York 96, Washington 87 (Washington +10, over 163.5)
Game 4: Washington 90, New York 88 (Washington +10.5, over 162.5)
Big Win in the Big Apple
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 10, 2023#BallOnOurTerms | @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/Yyn2mhD2uN
Injuries
New York Liberty
- Han Xu, Center: Out (Wasn't with the team Sept. 10 due to overseas commitment)
Washington Mystics
- Kristi Toliver, guard: OUT (ACL)
- Shakira Austin, Center: OUT (Hip- Out Sept. 9)
Series Preview
Liberty
The New York Liberty finished with their best record in franchise history (32-8) under Head Coach Sandy Brondello. Led by Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, Courtney Vandersloot, and Betnijah Laney, the Liberty finished first 1st in the WNBA Eastern Conference. Their 32 wins are the second most regular season wins in history. As they enter into the WNBA playoffs, New York averaged a franchise best in points, assists, three-pointers made, offensive rating, and total net rating.
Since the month of August, the Liberty led the league in win percentage (.867) field goal percentage (45.8), field goals made (33.3), three-pointers made/attempted, rebounds, assists, offensive rating, defensive rating, net rating, true shooting percentage, and player impact estimate. Though they dropped a nail biter in their last matchup against Washington, New York has been one of the most elite teams, especially towards the backend of the season. Overall, their roster features a combined 19 All-Star appearances. Crowned first time WNBA Commissioners Cup Champions, the Liberty look the bring the first ever trophy to New York.
Mystics
After finishing as the 5th seed in 2022, and losing to Seattle in the Semi-Finals, Washington is out for revenge this year. Unable to gather consistency due to injuries to Elene Delle Donne, Natasha Cloud, Ariel Atkins, and Shakira Austin, the Mystics have somewhat of a healthy roster. After losing Kristi Toliver due to a recent ACL tear, Washington will lose some slight guard depth. Through 40 games, the Mystics finished 7th in offensive rating, 5th in defensive rating and total net rating (-0.4). They finished as the worst team in terms of rebound percentage, and near last in field goal percentage (42.8). Since the All-Star break, Washington remained the 9th worst team offensively, with a 99.4 offensive rating. They finished 4-3 in their last games, included victories over the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty. With Center Shakira Austin questionable, Washingtons biggest questions remains their health.
Season Matchups
On repeat
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 11, 2023#BallOnOurTerms pic.twitter.com/NejVd6IaBv
In four regular season matchups, The Washington Mystics hold an eight-point differential, with the series split 2-2. Both franchises have met a total of nine times in the playoffs, including their last meeting in 2017. In those nine playoff matchups, New York has a 6-3 record against Washington. Overall New York outrebounded Washington 169-121. For rebounds, that's a significant margin (48), and will be a huge impact in this series.
Through four meetings, the Mystics averaged over 86 points a game, which is six points higher than their season average. Defensively, they held New York to under 40 percent three-point shooting in all matchups. For the Liberty, they averaged 84 points per game, five points less than their norm. Two of the four games were decided by two points or less, including an 89-88 overtime win by New York. On Sept. 10, the Mystics won by two points at the buzzer, thanks to a last second shot by Brittney Sykes. The New York Liberty are 32-8 when betting on the money line, and Washington 19-21-0. With only 8 losses on the season for New York, two came against Washington.
Liberty Key Players
The Stars Align Tour! Only one place to see it: BROOKLYN.
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) September 12, 2023
The superstars of the New York Liberty cover SLAM 246. https://t.co/iqhDhVEsqc pic.twitter.com/ThtUhmwdiq
Some would call this team a "super team," while Sabrina Ionescu stated "I think we're just super humans" on WSLAM. With the offseason acquisitions of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Courtney Vandersloot, the Liberty finished with the second-best record, with the No. 2 seed.
Voted the 2023 Associated Press Player of the Year, Breanna Stewart has the most 40-point, 10 rebound games in history. Stewart broke the WNBA record for points in a single season, tied the franchise record for 20 double-doubles, and has the most 40-point games in a season. No. 30 finished second behind Jewell Loyd in total points scored (919), third in rebounds (371) and blocks (63). Behind Stewart is a powerhouse, including Sabrina Ionescu, who was selected to the 2023 All- Associated Press Second Team.
Ionescu, 25, broke to all-time record for three-pointers made in a game, and just the 3rd player in history with 100 three-pointers made in a single season. Guard Courtney Vandersloot, "the floor general" reached 4,000 career points, and is playmaker and engine of this team. Former MVP Jonquel Jones was named Commissioners Cup MVP in August. Betnijah Laney, a defensive specialist, recently signed a multi-year extension, and has proven herself a vital part of this team. The starting five make up 74 points a game, which is 84 percent of their offense.
Defensive Specialists
With Kayla Thornton, Stefanie Dolson, and Marine Johannes on the bench, the Liberty rank near last in bench points per game (15.2). Truly a special team, all players have unselfishly come together, and developed trust and chemistry throughout the season. Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Courtney Vandersloot rank within the top ten in offensive rating. Thornton, Jocelyn Willoughby, and Dolson, all defensive players, rank top 17 in defensive rating.
Mystics Key Players
Bringing this Energy to playoffs
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 12, 2023#BallOnOurTerms pic.twitter.com/cq7S1edZLY
The Washington Mystics are the biggest mystery heading into the playoffs. Plagued by injuries, the Mystics find themselves in a tough matchup on the road. Washington, 7-13 in away games, will be without Kristi Toliver, and possibly Shakira Austin. Led by Elena Delle Donne, the Mystics dropped three of their last five, although they achieved impressive victories over New York and Las Vegas. Delle Donne, limited to 23 games this season, finished 17th in points per game (16.7), and 13th in field goals made.
Behind Delle Donne is Brittney Sykes, Natasha Cloud, Ariel Atkins, and Shakira Austin. With a three-guard lineup, when healthy, Clout, Atkins, and Skyes account for 50 percent of the team's total offense. In their previous matchup against the Liberty, the Mystic's backcourt comprised of 48 points, with 25 off the bench. If Austin is unable to suit up, the Mystics will struggle for frontcourt depth, behind Delle Donne and Hines-Allen.
Guard Brittney Sykes ranks 21st in points per game (15.9), including a 29-point performance in game three against New York. If healthy, this is a Mystics team that can be competitive, as we've seen in previous games. With a majority of their starters healthy and ready to suit up, this may be one of the most entertaining series we may see in the first round.
Prediction
Mentioned in my previous article, all predictions are for the straight money line series win. Although the Mystics gained a few players, the health of some are questionable. With the series tied 2-2, the Liberty are a vastly different team than their third meeting, on July 21st. With the Mystics averaging 86 points a game against New York, this should be a fun and competitive series. The Liberty are scary good, and several players mentioned they haven't reached their full potential. Perhaps we will see this in the upcoming weeks.
Washington covered the spread in four games and won't let New York walk away with any easy wins. With question marks in the frontcourt, the Mystics will heavily rely on their three guards. In my opinion, this series will be close, however, I will take the Liberty based off experience and talent. New York will have to dominate on the boards, as well as in the paint, and Washington will have to play stellar defense on the perimeter.
My prediction for the WNBA Playoffs First-Round: New York in three
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.
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