Sabrina Ionescu planted her feet and let the ball fly.
The ball fell through the net Tuesday night, and she celebrated by waving finger guns.
Finally.
For two weeks, Ionescu had been searching for her shot and fit within a new system that matured without her. She looked off a count in an offensive dance she usually leads. She couldn’t shake the rust that made her look like a shell of the superstar she is.
For two weeks, Ionescu has been trying to give herself grace, preaching patience and focusing on her next opportunity to get right.
On Tuesday, in front of a packed Barclays Center, Ionescu finally broke through.
And what a night to do so.
Ionescu and Breanna Stewart led the Liberty to a 93-85 win against the Aces to capture this year’s WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship.
The Liberty almost blew it Tuesday.
New York squandered yet another double-digit second-half lead.
It was a story that had already been written multiple times this season.
But the Liberty dug deep and found a way. It was a collaborative effort. Ionescu’s 3 with 16.8 seconds left was the dagger.
Stewart finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. Ionescu had a season-high 26 points, five rebounds and five assists.
At some point, the Liberty had to say enough is enough. New York has blown too many double-digit leads to count, including an embarrassing 17-point advantage in a loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.
Not this time.
Jackie Young almost single-handedly erased the Liberty’s 17-point advantage. She led the Aces with a game-high 31 points (25 of which were scored in the second half). Las Vegas was without star A’ja Wilson because of a right leg injury.
Early in the fourth, Young stole the ball and turned it into a game-tying layup. She drained a go-ahead basket with 7:25 left.
But the Liberty responded.
Jonquel Jones forcefully pulled down a rebound and passed it off to Ionescu, who looked up the court and saw Pauline Astier on the run.
Ionescu passed the rock up to Astier, who laid it in.
The Barclays Center crowd went wild. Ionescu emphatically fist-pumped the air.
Then, she pulled her rookie point guard in for a hug.
Astier’s layup punctuated the Liberty’s 10-0 run and forced Aces coach Becky Hammon to take a timeout.
The Aces didn’t back down.
But the Liberty held on.
Ionescu scored the Liberty’s first eight points to help New York take an early 10-2 lead.
She had a season-high 17 points by halftime.
Ionescu and Stewart helped the Liberty become the first franchise in the league to win multiple in-season tournaments. They last won in 2023. They went to the Cup finals a year later, but lost to the Lynx.
