DALLAS — It was a challenging night for Sabrina Ionescu.
She felt good about her shots, but unfortunately, they just wouldn’t go in.
The ball danced around the rim but rarely dropped through.
“The basketball gods were not kind to me,” Ionescu remarked.
Yet, when the game reached overtime and the Liberty really needed a win, she turned things around.
Ionescu scored 12 of the Liberty’s 16 points in overtime, snapping a four-game losing streak and leading the team to a thrilling 99-98 win against the Wings on Monday night.
This really captures the essence of a shooter’s mentality.
Despite her struggles earlier, with just nine points on 3-of-20 shooting before overtime, Ionescu didn’t lose confidence.
Shooting can be unpredictable, and she believed that eventually, her shots would find the basket.
Sometimes, it’s just about timing, right?
She found her rhythm when it mattered most, going 5-of-5 in overtime and securing the crucial victory.
Her 12 points also matched a league record for overtime scoring.
“In overtime, when the fresh players came in, it felt like a reset—a chance to believe that we could still win, and that’s the mindset you need as a shooter,” Ionescu explained.
And many might agree with that perspective.
This matchup had been pushed back by four days due to travel complications the Liberty faced while trying to leave New York.
But in the end, the wait was worth it.
The Liberty played the Wings for the second straight game, this time on the heels of a back-to-back.
The Wings were also missing their star player, Paige Bueckers, who was ejected due to a collision in a recent game.
Fortunately, Buccaneer did not suffer a concussion but was placed on the resting list.
The Liberty was eager for a comeback.
And they finally achieved it.
For a period, it seemed like they might never get it together.
A dismal third quarter nearly spelled disaster for the Liberty, with their defense holding strong but scoring only nine points.
However, they battled back from a 12-point deficit midway through the third, and the game remained tight as it approached the final minutes.
Arike Ogunbowale tied it up with just 3.9 seconds left, pushing the game into overtime, but the Wings thwarted the Liberty’s last chance in regulation.
From that point on, Ionescu rose to the occasion, just when the team needed it most.
Ogunbowale came close with a potential buzzer-beater that could have haunted the Liberty.
Director Chris DeMarco was understandably anxious.
But the shot missed.
The game was over. Liberty emerged victorious.
DeMarco could finally breathe easy.
“I don’t want to say I’m relieved,” Brianna Stewart noted post-game. “The challenges we face this season aren’t behind us yet. But given our resilience, this was definitely a win worth celebrating.”
While Ionescu played the role of the game’s hero, Stewart was the backbone of the Liberty.
Stewart delivered another outstanding performance, racking up 33 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.
She stepped up at the free-throw line late in the fourth, helping the Liberty turn the game around.
After a frustrating game against Indiana, where she missed five free throws and had four turnovers, she knew it was crucial to set a strong example for her teammates.
They depend on her to shine.
This time, their efforts paid off.
“I just have to do whatever is necessary to impact the game,” Stewart said. “I won’t play passively; I’ll focus on making the right plays. Win or lose, I’ll give it my all.”
