Finally! New York Liberty Block Out Connecticut Sun, Advance to WNBA Finals

The New York Liberty are on their way to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2002 after a thrilling victory over the Connecticut Sun to secure the semifinal set.

UNCASVILLE-The latest leg of the New York Liberty's ultimate dream has been realized.

New York is back in the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2002 as an 85-84 triumph over the Connecticut Sun in Game 4 of the best-of-five semifinal set secured a 3-1 series victory at Mohegan Sun Arena. 

Former Connecticut star Jonquel Jones recorded a 25-point, 15-rebound double-double to lead the way, eliminating her ex-compatriots just over a year after she guided the Sun to the WNBA Finals. She now has a chance at revenge, as New York faces defending champion Las Vegas in the upcoming championship round.

Jonquel Jones (R) earned yet another double-double in Sunday afternoon's Finals berth-clinching victory / Brandon Todd, NY Liberty

MVP Breanna Stewart led the New York way in scoring with 27 points while falling just a rebound short of a double-double while Betnijah Laney did a little bit of everything with 21 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. 

Sunday's win was far from the wire-to-wire triumph the Liberty enjoyed in Game 3 on Friday night. With former New Yorker and defensive stalwart Rebecca Allen back in the Connecticut lineup, Connecticut kept pace in the first half, even boosting its lead to 10 shortly before the midway mark of the second quarter. 

Over the final six minutes, however, the Liberty staged a 22-11 run, one capped off by Laney's collaborative fast-break with Ionescu, who gave the Liberty a 45-44 lead with 0.7 seconds left in the period. New York mostly controlled the third, much to the joy of a visible Liberty fan contingent sprinkled throughout the arena.

But the Sun snuck back in with an 8-0 run at the onset of the third quarter. Upon tying it at 66, the score did not break past more than one possession until the penultimate minute of the game, when a Stewart triple and two free throws placed New York up four. That, however, was quickly erased by a DeWanna Bonner triple from the hands of her fiancee and MVP runner-up Alyssa Thomas (who posted yet another triple-double with 17 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 helpers.

Unable to pull away at the foul line, Jones took matters into her own hands with a huge steal of a Tiffany Hayes pass, embarking on a fast break that produced free throws and a chance to more or less tip off the celebration. Connecticut made one last rush but a last opportunity fell short to secure the win.

Game 1 of the Finals, which will be staged at Las Vegas' Michelob Ultra Arena, will tip-off next Sunday afternoon in Sin City (3 p.m. ET, ABC). New York will look to break some bittersweet history in the WNBA's championship round: set to make their fifth Finals appearance (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002) the Liberty own the most bids without a trophy hoist.