What happened: Maya Caldwell missed a 27-foot three-point jumper with 7:30 remaining in the fourth quarter, per an ESPN play-by-play update. The score stood at 74-70 at the time of the attempt. The miss came during a tightly contested possession in the closing stretch of regulation.

Why it matters: Late-game three-point looks from deep range carry outsized leverage in a one-possession contest, particularly with under eight minutes to play. A converted attempt would have tied the game; instead, the defense retained its narrow four-point cushion. Caldwell, who earlier missed a 25-foot three as the score tightened to 39-36 in the second quarter, has now misfired from beyond the arc at a key juncture for the second time in this game.

What to watch: Watch the next two possessions for whether Caldwell's team continues to feed her perimeter looks or shifts to interior touches. Final-quarter execution inside seven minutes will dictate whether this stays a one-possession game.

Sources

  • @ESPN