October 17, 2024
Locked On Women’s Basketball: WNBA Finals Game 3 instant analysis
By The Next
Horstman: 'It was an unbelievable atmosphere and just a gut-punch way to lose'
On the latest episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, host Howard Megdal is joined by The Next’s Minnesota Lynx beat writer Terry Horstman to break down a stunning end to Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night in Minneapolis. A 3-pointer from the Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu with one second remaining in the fourth quarter propelled New York to an 80-77 win and a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-five final round.
Continue reading with a subscription to The Next
Get unlimited access to women’s basketball coverage and help support our hardworking staff of writers, editors, and photographers by subscribing today.
Already a member?
Login
Megdal and Horstman began by discussing the atmosphere at Target Center and what it was like to be in the building for Ionescu’s game winner.
Win a New York Liberty trading card when you subscribe!
Until the end of November, every new subscriber (and subscription renewal) to The Next will be entered to win a Panini trading card celebrating the WNBA champion New York Liberty — and yes, we can confirm it will be the Ellie rookie card!
“The 28-footer is the most reliable high-percentage shot in pressure situations,” Horstman joked, referring to Ionescu’s shot in Game 3 and Courtney Williams‘ shot in Game 1 that put Minnesota ahead with 5.1 seconds remaining. “In that Game 1, the fans … there was a sense of, ‘We have to leave? We have to leave now? That can’t be the end.’ It was the end tonight. It’s not the end of the series. … It was an unbelievable atmosphere and just a gut-punch way to lose.”
They also discussed Breanna Stewart‘s 30-point performance and her overall impact on Game 3 of this series.
Order ‘Rare Gems’ and save 30%
Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The Next and The IX, released his latest book on May 7, 2024. This deeply reported story follows four connected generations of women’s basketball pioneers, from Elvera “Peps” Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.
If you enjoy his coverage of women’s basketball every Wednesday at The IX, you will love “Rare Gems: How Four Generations of Women Paved the Way for the WNBA.” Click the link below to order and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout.
“I think a lot of this comes down to great players making great plays,” Horstman said. “The Lynx had done a good job defending pretty much all five Liberty players here on the court all game. And Stewie, I think, just found some space, found some looks, started to feel good, started to feel it, knocked down shots. And that was when the Lynx had started to make a few mistakes.”
Be sure to subscribe to the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast for more coverage of the 2024 WNBA Finals as well as previews of the upcoming women’s college basketball season and much more.
