In the first two games of the 2024 WNBA Finals, the New York Liberty started strong with impressive first quarters, but things changed in Game 3.
Game 3: A Shift in Momentum
The Liberty began Game 3 by scoring five out of the first seven points. However, playing on their home court, the Minnesota Lynx quickly turned things around with a powerful 12-point streak. This gave them a solid lead of 14-5 just over three minutes into the game. Kayla McBride was unstoppable during this stretch, matching her entire Game 2 score by hitting two consecutive three-pointers. This forced New York to call an early timeout—their first in any opening quarter during these playoffs.
KAYLA MCBRIDE HITS BACK-TO-BACK THREES 🔥
— ESPN (@espn)
Defense and Strategy
While Minnesota’s offense was on fire, their defense played a crucial role too. They managed to snag five steals and converted eight turnovers into 14 points. On the other side, Breanna Stewart from New York had a tough time, finishing the quarter with only four points and picking up two fouls.
Fans love seeing intense competition like this!
Despite some late efforts from New York that resulted in a small comeback run of seven points against Minnesota’s two, they still trailed by ten at the end of the first quarter with a scoreline reading 28-18.
Key Players Shine
McBride ended as Minnesota’s top scorer for that quarter with ten points; she hit four out of six shots and nailed two threes out of four attempts. Bridget Carleton also made significant contributions by adding seven more points to her team’s tally through effective shooting—three successful shots out of five tries—including one from downtown!
