Sabrina Ionescu broke the single-season three-point document to assist New York Liberty beat the Los Angeles Sparks 96-89 on Thursday night time, giving the Liberty eight straight wins.
The 25-year-old, who topped Diana Taurasi’s single-season three-point mark and now has 124 this 12 months, was fast to commemorate her position mannequin.
“It is an honour, any time you are in a position to go arguably the best basketball participant that ever performed within the WNBA,” she mentioned.
Liberty coach Sandy Brandello echoed that sentiment, stating: “That is an awesome accomplishment. Diana is without doubt one of the biggest of all-time, and Sabrina’s like Diana. She’s labored at that, she’s a a lot better shooter than she was final 12 months.”
The win places New York (32-7) a half-game behind Las Vegas for the No. 1 seed within the playoffs, whereas defeat for the Sparks (16-23) spells bother; they sit a half-game behind Chicago for the ultimate playoff spot, and must get on their bike.
Sadly for them, the Liberty’s star guard, having missed all eight of her photographs within the first half, together with six three-pointers, had a monstrous second half.
She made a 3 with 9:12 left within the third quarter to tie Taurasi’s mark of 121, set in 2006. She then broke the 17-year previous mark with a 3 that she banked in from the nook two minutes later.
Stefanie Dolson matched her velocity and was additionally sizzling from behind the arc. When New York trailed by 13 halfway by means of the third quarter, she bought going. Dolson, who completed with 17 factors, hit 5 three-pointers over a five-minute stretch because the Liberty took their first lead because the opening interval.
The change in kind got here at a time the place the Sparks had been firing again, and had scored 12 straight, together with the ultimate 9 of the opening interval. They prolonged the result in 14 within the second earlier than Dolson and Breanna Stewart – who picked up 21 factors within the opening 20 minutes – bought New York again inside 50-43 on the half.
Her fourth and fifth three-pointer despatched the gang right into a frenzy and gave New York an 81-78 lead with 7:23 left within the recreation, beginning a 17-4 run that put the sport away.
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