Sabrina Ionescu, Natasha Howard keep Liberty’s playoff hopes alive

Don’t count out the Liberty just yet.

New York put on a show for a home crowd at the Barclays Center Friday night, downing the Washington Mystics 91-80 to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Natasha Howard recorded 24 points, ten rebounds and three steals in the team’s last regular-season game. Sabrina Ionescu came up clutch as well, with 22 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

CLUTCH THREE @sabrina_i20 🧊

💻 #WNBATwitter pic.twitter.com/hWVQbnwNeQ

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 18, 2021

The team also broke the single-season 3-point record with 321, draining ten from deep against the Mystics.

Washington took the court without star player Elena Delle Donne, who is still battling injury, and without head coach Mike Thibault, who is in COVID-19 protocols. The Mystics’ playoff hopes are still very much alive despite the loss. A win on Sunday against the Lynx would secure Washington the eighth and final playoff spot.

The Liberty need Washington and the Los Angeles Sparks to lose on Sunday to advance to the playoffs.

Next up: The Mystics face the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN3.