Tired of Minnesota’s dominance over New York this season, Sabrina Ionescu issued a stern warning to their rivals ahead of their next game. The star guard warned that the Lynx will face the best Liberty this Sunday at the Barclays Center, looking to avenge their past losses.
New York and Minnesota have forged one of the most intense rivalries in the WNBA. Both teams have faced each other 56 times, with a balance of 31 victories for the Lynx and 26 for the Liberty.
This year, Minnesota has dominated the matchups against New York with a record of 2-1. In their first game in late May, the Lynx beat the Liberty 84-67. In late June, Minnesota won for the second time by 94-89, and a week later, New York achieved its first victory of the series by 76-67.
The Lynx’s dominance has not suited Ionescu at all. In recent statements, the Liberty star made it clear that they will seek a victory that will balance this season’s record, in addition to stopping Minnesota’s four-game winning streak.
The Lynx will find the best Liberty
Sandy Brondello’s pupils have a 31-6 record, the best in the WNBA so far. However, their good run has left them with a bitter taste, as they have not been able to beat the 27-9 Minnesota.
In this regard, Ionescu warned, “It’s gonna be a statement game. I’m really excited to see the growth from the last time we faced them to now in terms of seeing how much better we’ve gotten.”
The star guard recalled, “It’s the two top teams playing each other, and we have to come out and play our best basketball and do that for 40 minutes.” That’s why “We gotta make sure we put our best foot forward.”
Finally, Ionescu considered that the team has been playing its best basketball in its last games “in terms of just finding ways to win whether it’s pretty or ugly.”
Both teams arrive in full strength
Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones will lead the Liberty this Sunday at the Barclays Center. Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, and Courtney Williams will do the same for the Lynx.
New York arrives with a five-game winning streak after beating Seattle 98-85 and 77-70, Las Vegas 75-71, and the Dallas Wings 105-91 and 99-67. Minnesota, meanwhile, has four straight wins with victories of 79-74 over Chicago, 99-88 against Indiana, 78-71 over Washington, and 76-64 against Atlanta.
