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Liberty Blow 17-Point Lead, Lose at Buzzer!

The Liberty suffered a stunning defeat, squandering a massive third-quarter lead and ultimately losing at the buzzer to the Sparks.

6/22/2026, 3:01:49 AM

BUZZ

What just happened?! The New York Liberty choked, big time! They had a commanding 17-point lead in the third quarter against the Sparks, and then completely fell apart. This isn't just a loss; it's a full-blown meltdown that has fans absolutely fuming.

It was supposed to be an easy win. The Liberty were cruising, dominating the court, and looking unstoppable. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, they hit the snooze button. Complacency set in, and the Sparks, sensing blood in the water, pounced.

Suddenly, that comfortable lead vanished. The game became a nail-biter, a back-and-forth struggle that no one saw coming. The Liberty, who had looked so confident, were now scrambling, fighting to hold on against a resurgent Sparks team.

Liberty Blow 17-Point Lead, Lose at Buzzer! — photo 3

And then came the gut punch. As the clock wound down, Nneka Ogwumike delivered the dagger, a buzzer-beating three-pointer that sent the Sparks bench into a frenzy and left the Liberty absolutely devastated. You could feel the air go out of the arena. It was a heartbreaking way to lose.

The post-game chatter is all about the collapse. How do you let a 17-point lead slip away? Players are looking shell-shocked, and the coaching staff has some serious questions to answer. This kind of performance is unacceptable for a team with championship aspirations.

NY Post Sports earlier called out the team's tendency to relax when ahead. This loss just amplified those concerns. It's a wake-up call, a harsh reminder that no lead is safe if you don't stay focused for the entire game. The league is buzzing about this stunning upset.

Liberty Blow 17-Point Lead, Lose at Buzzer! — photo 7

Where do they go from here? The Liberty need to do some serious soul-searching. They have to bounce back quickly and prove that this was just a blip, not a sign of deeper issues. The next game is crucial; they need to show they can close out a game, especially when they have the advantage.

This loss is going to sting for a long time. It's a tough lesson learned, hopefully, that complacency kills. The Liberty faithful are demanding answers, and they deserve to see a renewed intensity from their team moving forward. This kind of choke job can't happen again!