Sabrina Ionescu buzzer-beater: How Liberty star overcame ‘Slack Mamba’ nickname to hit game-winning logo 3

By | October 16, 2024
0 Comment

When you look up “clutch” in the dictionary after Game 3 of the WNBA Finals between the Lynx and Liberty, you might find a photo of Sabrina Ionescu. 

The New York guard had scored just seven points heading into the home stretch of the game in Minnesota, well below her regular-season average of 18.2. But with just under a minute remaining, Ionescu turned up the heat.

First, Ionescu stepped back and hit a 24-foot 3-pointer to extend New York’s lead to four points. Still, the Lynx refused to quit, fighting back to tie the game behind star Napheesa Collier.

With 2.1 seconds on the clock, Ionescu took the game into her own hands. She took on Minnesota’s Kayla McBride before stepping back from 28 feet deep and sinking the biggest shot of her life.

Thanks to Ionescu’s game-winning shot, the Liberty walked away with the 80-77 win in Minnesota, and they will return to the Target Center on Friday for Game 4 with a 2-1 lead in the five-game series.

Here’s everything to know about Ionescu’s buzzer-beater, including how the Liberty star overcame a “Slack Mamba” nickname to hit the game-winning logo 3.

MORE: Updated schedule, scores, and results for 2024 WNBA playoff bracket

Sabrina Ionescu buzzer-beater video

The guard’s dagger silenced the Minnesota faithful as she celebrated with her tongue out after the shot. Here’s a video of Ionescu’s game-winning basket.

Sabrina Ionescu stats tonight

Despite limited points, Ionescu contributed more than her stat-line might indicate. In fact, she actually shot above her regular-season field goal percentage, hitting 5-of-12 for 41.7% compared to 39.4% before the playoffs. 

She also shot above her average from three, thanks to both of her late-game sinkers, and was consistent with her rebounding and assist numbers. Here’s how Ionescu fared through just over 30 minutes of play.

  • MIN: 32
  • PTS: 13
  • FG: 5-12
  • 3PT: 3-8
  • REB: 5
  • AST: 6
  • PF: 3

MORE: Times, TV channels, live streams to watch Liberty vs. Lynx series

Reactions to Sabrina Ionescu buzzer-beater

It wasn’t long before Ionescu was trending No. 1 on X (formerly Twitter) for her game-winning work. Social media had plenty of noteworthy reactions to her clutch three—here are some of the best, including posts from fellow WNBA players, NBA stars and more.

Source