Aliyah Boston hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send the Indiana Fever to overtime Wednesday afternoon, but Sabrina Ionescu had the last laugh in the New York Liberty’s 95-87 win.
Boston is not known for her 3-point shooting. The Fever rookie shot just 24.2% from beyond the arc in her four years at South Carolina, and 10.5% in her senior season with the Gamecocks. She has attempted just two 3-pointers through 19 games to start her WNBA career.
Still, she picked a great time to sink her first WNBA 3-pointer. As the final seconds ticked off the clock in the fourth quarter, she scored a contested shot as time expired to push the game to overtime with the score tied at 80.
LeBron James applauded Boston’s shot and the Fever’s comeback on Twitter.
ALIYAH BOSTON SENDS IT TO OT 💥
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) July 12, 2023
(🎥 @SportsCenter) pic.twitter.com/AhOOt1p6OL
Thank youuu!!!! Appreciate it https://t.co/gzyTTToiwm
— Aliyah A. Boston (@aa_boston) July 12, 2023
Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello also complimented Boston’s play. The 6-5 forward finished with 23 points and nine rebounds.
“Her game is suited to the pros,” Brondello said. “We tried to throw some traps at her, but she was triple-teamed in college. She’s just very skilled. She’s got good touch around the basket. She rebounds extremely well. She really works for her positioning. She’s a handful, and she’s only going to get better and better.”
Ionescu, though, propelled her team to victory, contributing 34 points, six rebounds and five assists. The fourth-year guard scored two of her seven 3-pointers in overtime to help seal the win.
“She’s a clutch player,” Liberty forward Jonquel Jones said. “When it gets tough, she’s hitting big shots. So I think we all look for her, especially late in the game… She shoots with the same fluidity and the same poise as she shoots in the first quarter, so (she is) definitely our go-to person late.”
Sabrina Ionescu was on FIRE in the Liberty's OT win 😤
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) July 12, 2023
🗽 34 PTS
🗽 6 REB
🗽 5 AST
🗽 7 3PM pic.twitter.com/kvK6OPI5zk