Player Grades: Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu’s Performances in Liberty vs. Lynx WNBA Finals

The highly anticipated WNBA Finals showdown between the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty delivered thrilling performances, with stars like Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu under the spotlight. Both players have been key to the Liberty’s postseason run, but how did they fare in this critical matchup?

Breanna Stewart: A Defensive Force, But Shooting Struggles (Grade: B)

Breanna Stewart’s impact was felt on both ends of the court, particularly defensively. She provided excellent rim protection and grabbed crucial rebounds to keep the Liberty in the game. However, her shooting was inconsistent throughout the matchup. Stewart finished with 18 points but shot only 38% from the field, falling short of her usual efficiency.

Despite her offensive struggles, Stewart’s leadership and defensive contributions kept her grade solid, though not as dominant as Liberty fans hoped for.

Sabrina Ionescu: Clutch Shooting, But Turnovers Hurt (Grade: B+)

Sabrina Ionescu showcased why she’s one of the WNBA’s rising stars. Ionescu hit a series of clutch three-pointers that kept the Liberty in the game, finishing with 22 points and 5 assists. Her court vision and ability to create plays were vital against the Lynx’s defense.

However, her game wasn’t flawless. Ionescu committed 4 turnovers, some of which led to key scoring opportunities for the Lynx. While her shooting kept the Liberty competitive, cleaning up those turnovers will be crucial moving forward in the series.

The Liberty’s Path Forward

While both Stewart and Ionescu had solid games, their combined efforts fell short of overpowering the Lynx’s strong defensive unit. The Liberty will need more efficient play from their stars and stronger ball security to take the lead in this Finals matchup.