“These WNBA Finals have been straight BLOOD PRESSURE,” this is how Chiney Ogwumike has painted the picture of the ongoing Finals. The WNBA’s two most dominant teams making a run for this year’s league title. Challenging! On one end, it is the Minnesota Lynx who had themselves locked in Game 1. However, they couldn’t hold on to it any further as Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty to 2 straight wins after that.

Mesmerized by her post-season display, WNBA legend Lisa Leslie can’t hold back but talk about how good Ionescu’s game is, although, with a hint of caution. In the recent episode of the Fast Friends podcast on Just Women’s Sports, Leslie engaged in an insightful conversation with former soccer icon, Kelley O’Hara about the same.

Talking about Ionescu’s game, Leslie described, “Ionescu came out smoking. I feel like when she just shoots, she’s so amazing and then there’s times that she just doesn’t take a shot for so long. She goes without taking a shot too long for my comfort. I just want her to stay in it.”

In Game 3, Breanna Stewart carried the Liberty throughout the game until arrived Ionescu’s turn to push it through an 80-77 win. Having sole possession, Ionescu dribbled, took a few steps back and then BAM hit a 28-foot deep 3-pointer in the last couple of seconds of the game.

“She was hawking like she was on fire. Every time she came off, she was looking at the basket, it was just money, right little drive pull up, everything’s great and then she just I don’t… like… where did she go?,” she added, while pointing out the inconsistency in Ionescu’s play during the game.

She rather demanded to see more of Sabrina Ionescu on the court as she exclaimed, “The way she shoots I’m like get her down send her a double come off make them switch drop it back.” This post-season, Sabrina Ionescu has come up strong, averaging 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game. Moreover, her 3-point shooting percentage of 43.1 makes up for the much-needed impact from deep.

Moreover, the Liberty had an impactful display in Game 3, which consisted of Stewart being on the forefront alongside Ionescu, Jones, and Fiebich hitting that lucky number with 13 points each. And, the direction Leslie took the conversation to, Ionescu needs to keep that growing as the 2x WNBA champion stressed that New York could get blown out in Minnesota.

Sabrina Ionescu needs to buckle up for Game 4

Although, an elite baller, Ionescu needs to stay put for all the more challenging Game 4 ahead. The reason behind this can be, as Leslie indicated, Minnesota’s capability of blowing out New York.

“When you’re up by 18 and a team comes back you give us the confidence of the world that no matter what the score is we always have a chance to win that if I’m Minnesota that’s what I’m thinking,” Leslie reasoned.

She also noted that the Lynx will be getting an added advantage to get out of the gates pretty strong. Added to this mix is Minnesota’s comeback, which can turn lethal, given the Lynx is one of the most defensive teams in the WNBA, “a well-oiled machine,” having won four league championships and going for their fifth one.

Needless to say, it’s Minnesota’s showstopper and the Defensive Player of the Year, Napheesa Collier playing under 4x WNBA Coach of the Year Cheryl Reeve. As a result, Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty as a whole, need to brace themselves as they are about to step into one of the most fierce matchups that is about to come their way in their quest for a WNBA championship title.