Members of the New York Liberty did not find it easy turning the page after their historic Game 1 collapse against the Minnesota Lynx. Liberty stars, Sabrina Ionescu, Leonie Fiebich, and Courtney Vandersloot, each had unique ways of coping with the humbling loss. Nevertheless, they found themselves back on track with seismic performances by Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and the team in their Game 2 win, despite a tense moment when they saw a 17-point lead dwindle to just a 2-point advantage. However, the day belonged to Laney-Hamilton, who turned the tide with a key 3-pointer and an elusive rebound that led to an 80-66 triumph.
Laney-Hamilton’s performance in Game 2 had been relatively minimal in the opener, only playing for 26 minutes. However, Game 2 saw her score 20 points, equaling the current season-high. The clutch shot effectively expanded the lead back to five with about 3 minutes remaining. Laney-Hamilton’s standout display carried even more weight considering she had undergone a knee procedure and was only able to participate in 28 games during the regular season.
Having managed to contribute considerably to the game despite physical limitations due to her knee, Laney-Hamilton maintained good form, notably guarding Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride. Even though Williams and McBride had scored 23 and 22 points in Game 1 respectively, Laney-Hamilton managed to hold them back to scoring only 15 and 8 points respectively in Game 2. This significant reduction in points contributed to the steady performance by the New York Liberty in the game.
Even with Laney-Hamilton’s momentous boost alongside the staggering performance by Ionescu, Game 2 had eerily similar high tension moments to Game 1. Having begun the game with a 10-point lead that dwindled to a 6-point lead, the Liberty faced other challenges. However, unlike Game 1, Game 2 witnessed the Liberty’s resilience as they managed to avoid a collapse. With Stewart recording seven steals, Jones scoring a key layup, and Fiebich shooting a 3-pointer, the Liberty extended their lead.
The grand moment arrived when Laney-Hamilton took a rebound following a Minnesota timeout with a 9-point cushion, the largest lead of the contest. Tension was in the air as the Liberty led by only 2 points with just 4 minutes remaining. However, unlike in Game 1, the Liberty held on to their lead, pulling away with a 14-point win. Despite the pressure, players like Collier, Fiebich, and Laney-Hamilton were exceptional, continuing to push the team forward through each minute.
As the series moves into Game 3 evenly poised at 1-1, the spotlight will continue to shine on Laney-Hamilton. Despite her recovery from a knee procedure, her improving performance will be key for the Liberty. With her impressive Game 2 performance, Laney-Hamilton underlined her capability to be a game-changer, and expectations will be high heading into the next Games. The Lynx were commendably resilient despite two early large deficits, which bodes well for them as the series moves to Minnesota. Nonetheless, the combination of Laney-Hamilton’s heroics and the team’s grit will be critical to the Liberty as they forge ahead in the series.
