Liberty One Step Away from the Finals

The New York Liberty are making it look like just another day at the office. They’re now just one victory away from booking their ticket to the WNBA Finals and potentially snagging their first-ever championship. And Sabrina Ionescu is leading this charge.

In Game 2, she was unstoppable, pouring in 24 points on 50% shooting, grabbing nine boards, and dishing out five assists. Oh, and just in case the Aces forgot who they’re up against, Ionescu decided to drop 11 of those points in the fourth quarter, including seven clutch ones in the final 1:45.

The Liberty pulled off an 88-84 victory over the defending champs, the Las Vegas Aces, leaving Vegas on the ropes, down 2-0 in this best-of-five series. And if history is any indication, no WNBA team has ever come back from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five. Soooo… safe to say, New York’s feeling pretty good about their shot at the Finals. But hey, it's sports, anything can happen, right?

Lynx Find Their Groove 🐺

After losing seven straight home games to the Connecticut Sun, including a brutal series opener, the Lynx finally found their mojo and then some. They pulled off a convincing 77-70 win to tie up the series 1-1, and suddenly, it’s game on!

Defense was the name of the game here. The Lynx clamped down hard on defense holding the Sun to just 36.4% shooting and forcing 12 turnovers. Leading the charge on the defensive end was none other than WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier, who was everywhere with nine points, 12 rebounds, five assists, four blocks, and a steal. Basically, Collier was the WNBA version of a Swiss Army knife, doing a bit of everything to secure that W.

On offense, it was all hands on deck for Minnesota. Courtney Williams led the way with 17 points, but every Lynx player who stepped on the floor scored at least four points. Teamwork makes the dream work, right?

Alyssa Thomas continued to do Alyssa Thomas things for the Sun, recording 18 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. But even her all-around brilliance couldn’t stop the Lynx from leveling the series.

Fun fact: The first round of the playoffs was full of sweeps, so the WNBA probably breathed a sigh of relief when Minnesota evened up the series.

The semifinals continue on Friday night with a pair of must-watch Game 3s. The Liberty and Aces head to Vegas for what could be a series-ender, while the Lynx and Sun head to Connecticut to battle it out.

Wemby’s Dunk Hit List

Victor Wembanyama had an incredible rookie season, snatching Rookie of the Year and All-Defensive honors while leaving the league buzzing about his potential. But now, the 7'4" French phenom has set his sights on some personal goals, like dunking on the league’s best defenders. Yep, Wemby is coming for specific people.

"The best defenders would be the biggest challenge, so that would be Rudy Gobert, I think Kawhi would be, because all these guys I respect so much on the defensive end that it would be incredible to dunk on them. So I'd say Rudy, Kawhi and a third one would be Jonathan Isaac. I think Isaac's a really, really underrated defender."

Of course, Wemby’s dunk list is just a start, plenty of NBA players are likely to end up in his posters this season. And with Chris Paul now running the point for the Spurs, you just know those highlight reels are going to be chef’s kiss.

Grizzlies’ Injury Woes Continue

Deja vu much? The Memphis Grizzlies might be feeling like they’re stuck in an endless loop of injuries. The latest victim? Jaren Jackson Jr., their All-Star and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year. Coach Taylor Jenkins revealed that JJJ felt some tightness in his hamstring during the first day of training camp, and it’s looking like a strain could be the issue.

Remember last season when the Grizzlies set an NBA record for most total games missed due to injury? (A staggering 578) If Jackson’s injury is serious, Memphis could be in for more lineup madness, and not the fun kind.

For a player known for his explosiveness and defensive ability, a hamstring strain is not what the Grizzlies need with the season just three weeks away. Let’s hope it’s minor, because the last thing Memphis needs is another round of wild lineups and injury-filled nightmares.

Bulls to Honor their Hometown Hero

On Jan. 4, the United Center will pay tribute to one of Chicago’s all-time greats, Derrick Rose. The Bulls will honor their former MVP when they host the New York Knicks.

Rose, who recently retired after 16 seasons in the NBA, had his best years in the Windy City. From winning Rookie of the Year to becoming the youngest MVP in league history in 2011, Rose’s time in Chicago was nothing short of legendary. Despite injuries that derailed much of his prime, Rose still managed to make a lasting impact, especially with his jaw-dropping performances and ability to bring hope to his hometown.

So get ready to see the United Center light up in honor of the man who carried the hopes of an entire city on his shoulders.

Thon Maker Gets Another Shot with the Houston Rockets

Remember Thon Maker? The 7-footer South Sudanese-Australian, once hyped as the next big thing, is back in the NBA after signing with the Houston Rockets.

Maker, who was drafted 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2016, has had quite the journey. After bouncing between a few teams like Detroit and Cleveland, and then going international with stops in Israel, China, and Lebanon, Maker now has a chance to prove himself once again in the league.

He’s joining the Rockets on an Exhibit 10 deal, a non-guaranteed contract that gives him a shot to stick with the squad. With the Rockets rebuilding and looking to develop young talent, Maker’s unique skill set could be exactly what Houston needs if he can tap into that potential we saw back in 2016.

It’s a fresh start for Maker, and Houston’s hoping he can bring some of that untapped potential back to the court.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading.

We’ll see you tomorrow!

— The Players Unlimited Team