New York Takes East Title, 64-57

Teresa Weatherspoon jumped on the press table and danced amid the falling confetti. Vickie Johnson just smiled after donning her orange Eastern Conference championship cap.

Johnson scored 19 points on seven-for-10 shooting as the New York Liberty defeated the Washington Mystics, 64-57, Sunday in Game 3 of the best-of-three series to advance to their fourth WNBA Finals in the league’s six-year history.

New York will play the defending champion Sparks in Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals on Thursday at the Garden. The Sparks completed their sweep of the Utah Starzz in the Western Conference finals on Saturday.

“It’s a great feeling to win the Eastern Conference championship, but it’s not over,” Johnson said. “We have to go to Los Angeles with a winning attitude to win a championship and not just settle for being there.”

The Liberty’s playoff experience showed in the Game 3. After the Mystics’ Annie Burgess made one of two free throws to cut New York’s lead to 58-55, Johnson sank a baseline jumper to make extend the Liberty edge to five with 55 seconds left. After the Mystics’ Chamique Holdsclaw missed a three-point attempt, Tari Phillips made two free throws and Weatherspoon made a layup to pad New York’s margin.

Holdsclaw, who led the league in scoring and rebounding, had 15 of her 19 points in the second half.

“It’s sad, but I’ve learned everything happens for a reason,” she said. “We’re going to grow and get better. What I love about this group is we’re young and hungry.”

New York had a huge advantage at the free-throw line, making 22 of 26. Washington made four of seven.