Stef-tember: Dolson From Deep Helps Liberty Stifle Sparks

Stef Dolson's dominant second half from deep allowed the New York Liberty to earn a come-from-behind victory in their penultimate game of the 2023 regular season.

Already armed to the brim with championship-caliber talent, the New York Liberty reminded a WNBA world bracing for a metropolitan-headlined postseason that they have a previous Finals ring-bearer coming off their bench on Thursday night

Stef Dolson's excess hardware, which includes an Olympic 3-on-3 gold medal, a EuroLeague title, and WNBA Finals jewels from Chicago Sky's 2021 title run, hardly held her down as she paced the Liberty's 96-89 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in their penultimate game of the 2023 regular season at Barclays Center.

Brandon Todd, NY Liberty

With a season-best 17 points in relief, Dolson was the primary spark behind a fiery New York second half as they erased a deficit that reached as high as 14. Three-point prowess from Dolson led the way, as she posted a perfect 5-of-5 game from deep. Among the starters, Breanna Stewart led the team with 25 points while Betnijah Laney was right behind with 20 while dishing out seven assists, second-best on the team behind Courtney Vandersloot's 10. 

Terror from deep was a common theme of the Liberty's latest win, their seventh in a row: in addition to Dolson's showcase, Sabrina Ionescu made WNBA history with her 122nd successful three of the season, passing Diana Taurasi's triple tally from 2006. With 17 total on 34 attempts, the Liberty (32-7) fell one short of tying the single-game Association record they tied last season. 

Down as many as 14, Stefanie Dolson hits the triple for the LEAD! pic.twitter.com/fBwxKKhwwF

— New York Liberty Videos (@SNYLiberty) September 8, 2023

Los Angeles (16-23) was led by 30 points by former New Yorker Layshia Clarendon, who sank 12-of-16 from the field. The Sparks fell a half-game behind idle Chicago for the eighth and final WNBA playoff spot with one game in Seattle left on their docket. Thursday's also had slight postseason implications for the Liberty, as they're now a half-game behind Las Vegas for the WNBA's top playoff seed and the permanent homecourt advantage that comes with it.

The Liberty close out the 2023 regular season on Sunday afternoon against the Washington Mystics (1 p.m. ET, YES App/NBA TV).