WNBA Finals Game 3: Sparks Ignite at the Buzzer
There’s clutch — and then there’s what Kiana Torres did in Game 3.
With 2.3 seconds left, the rookie guard caught the inbound pass, pivoted off a perfect curl screen, and let the jumper fly. Swish. Bedlam. Crypto.com Arena erupted as the Los Angeles Sparks stole a one-point win and a 2–1 series lead in the WNBA Finals.
“I saw daylight and just let it go,” Torres said afterward, still gripping the game ball. “Coach trusted me. That’s all I needed.”
The Last 90 Seconds
Before that final play, the Sparks were on the edge. The Liberty had clawed back from an eight-point deficit behind Breanna Stewart’s late scoring run, and the momentum was all New York.
But Los Angeles responded with poise. Riley Parker battled through foul trouble to grab a massive defensive rebound with 19 seconds left, giving the Sparks one final possession. From there, head coach Latricia Trammell called timeout, drew up the same inbound set the team has practiced since training camp — a misdirection screen that frees the weak-side shooter.
And this time, it wasn’t the veterans taking the shot. It was the rookie.
“We’ve run that set a hundred times,” Trammell said. “But it only works if the player has the guts to take it. Kiana did.”
The Rookie Moment That Changed Everything
Torres, just 22, has been a spark plug off the bench all postseason.
But in this moment, she looked like a ten-year vet — calm, balanced, fearless. The jumper wasn’t just a highlight; it was a statement that this young Sparks core isn’t waiting for tomorrow.
Teammates mobbed her as confetti fell, and veteran Nneka Ogwumike called it “the loudest moment we’ve had in this building all season.”
Stats Tell the Rest of the Story
The Sparks didn’t just win on a miracle shot — they executed.
They shot 47% from three, moved the ball with rhythm, and out-rebounded the Liberty 38–32, despite Parker’s limited minutes in foul trouble. Layshia Clarendon added 10 assists, controlling the pace and keeping the offense patient when it mattered most.
For New York, the story was the missed opportunities: 14 turnovers, including two in the final minute, and a late defensive lapse that left the backdoor open for Torres’ heroics.
What’s Next
The Sparks now hold a 2–1 edge and a chance to close it out on the road.
But anyone who’s watched this Liberty team knows they won’t fade quietly. Expect adjustments — especially in how New York defends Los Angeles’ wing action — and expect Stewart and Ionescu to come out aggressive from the jump.
Game 4 tips Wednesday night at Barclays Center. If it’s anything like Game 3, clear your evening.
Follow @SidelineWithSarah for on-site Finals coverage, player reactions, and behind-the-scenes moments from the series.