Dearica Hamby delivered the game-winning shot and a robust message after main the Vinyl to a 73-70 upset victory over the top-seeded Lunar Owls in Sunday evening’s Unmatched semifinal. The Los Angeles Sparks ahead completed with 16 factors and 15 rebounds within the greatest upset of the inaugural league season.
“We’ve been counted out this complete season,” Hamby mentioned postgame. “We take into account ourselves underdogs however that didn’t present in our locker room. We by no means stopped believing in ourselves… (Coach Teresa Weatherspoon) constantly believed in us and continued to pour religion in us. She stored saying she had a imaginative and prescient for us.”
Hamby sealed the win with a left-handed layup over WNBA Defensive Participant of the 12 months Napheesa Collier, capping a tightly contested ultimate quarter. Collier, who tied her season excessive with 36 factors, briefly had an opportunity to take the lead however handed on a late three-point try.
“It positively stings,” mentioned Lunar Owls coach DJ Sackmann. “We’ve been on the opposite facet of this … however this time it didn’t go our manner.”
Heading into Unmatched’s semifinals, the Lunar Owls have been 13-1 and regarded heavy favorites. Collier was named league MVP earlier than tip-off. Regardless of that, the Vinyl’s protection held sturdy within the closing moments, and Hamby’s determination to drive left secured their championship berth.
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“I felt like she was going to leap, and I used to be going to have a transparent right-handed layup,” Hamby mentioned. “I went proper, and he or she jumped it, so I went again left, and I do know folks assume I do not prefer to go left, that I do not use my left hand, however I used it when it mattered.”
Within the earlier semifinal, Chelsea Grey powered the Rose to a 63-57 win over the Laces, scoring a tournament-high 39 factors, together with the game-winning three-pointer. Grey led a second-half comeback with 15 factors within the third quarter and helped rally a staff lacking stars Angel Reese and Kahleah Copper.
“We’ve been counted out all yr lengthy,” mentioned Rose coach Nola Henry. “Each participant on our staff has stepped up and embraced the difficulties.”
The Rose enter Monday’s ultimate as the favourite, having gained six of their final eight video games. The Vinyl, who barely clinched a playoff berth, now stand one win away from the title. The championship sport suggestions off Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET.