The Liberty Are The 2024 WNBA Champions

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The Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty went head-to-head in a winner-take-all game. This was the first time that a finals series went to a Game 5 since 2019. The 2019 WNBA Finals between the Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun was a five-game series, with the Mystics winning it.

Coincidentally, Myisha Hines-Allen was a part of the Mystics championship team. Jonquel Jones, Natiesha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams were all on the Sun at that time.

Game Recap

Minnesota got off to an 8-2 start, with Napheesa Collier getting the ball early. She had eight points in the paint. New York looked on edge and did not get on the board until the 6:14 mark thanks to Jonquel Jones. They cut the lead to two before the Lynx closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run. Neither Sabrina Ionescu nor Breanna Stewart scored in the quarter.

New York went over three minutes without a made field goal until Jones hit one to begin the second quarter. The Lynx increased the lead to double digits before Breanna Stewart finally scored to cut it to eight. The Liberty made three consecutive shots after they started attacking the paint.

But it did not do much to swing the momentum as they were sloppy with the ball, committing turnovers on back to back possessions. They struggled from distance, going the entire first half without a made three-pointer. And yet, it was a seven-point game at the half.

The Lynx were not much better, shooting 20% from three. The Liberty were able to trim the lead by getting to the free throw line. They made seven out of eight free throw attempts, while the Lynx had zero.

New York got off to a 6-1 start in the third quarter to make it a one-possession game. Going back to the second quarter, Minnesota went over six minutes without a made field goal. The drought ended at the 5:13 mark when Bridget Carleton hit a three, but the Liberty answered with a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game.

While the Liberty had it going, the Lynx were out of sorts and dealing with foul trouble. Collier, Williams, and Carleton each had three fouls while no one on the Liberty had more than two. Nyara Sabally was the reason for the comeback, scoring nine points on 100 FG% in the quarter.

The Liberty outscored the Lynx 20-10 in the quarter. The difference was the bench production, with Sabally leading the way for New York. Minnesota began the fourth quarter on a 4-2 run to retake the lead. Leonie Fiebich answered with a personal 4-0 run to regain the lead for the Liberty.

It was a back and forth game down the stretch as neither team took full control. There were also some key defensive plays on both sides. After going most of the game without a three-pointer, Ionescu hits the team’s first three at the 3:10 mark. That was also her first made field goal of the game.

The Lynx retook the lead thanks to an 8-2 run with under a minute left. Back to back fouls put them over the limit, sending Stewart to the line with a chance to tie the game. In a shocking turn of events, she missed them both. They still had a chance to score after grabbing two offensive boards, but Ionescu missed both three point attempts. Minnesota got the ball with a chance to make it a two-possession, but Collier missed the layup. With 6.1 seconds left, the Liberty had a chance to either tie or take the lead to win the game.

Alanna Smith was called for a foul, which would’ve put Stewart on the line. Cheryl Reeve challenged the call, but it was unsuccessful. Stewart made them both, and the game was tied once again. Minnesota still had five seconds to get a shot off. Kayla McBride’s three-point try was short, and that was the end of regulation.

This was the first time in WNBA Finals history that there were multiple overtime games as well as the first Finals in WNBA history to have five clutch-time games. Five more minutes of a legendary Finals game was not the worst thing in the world, but Minnesota was still dealing with foul trouble.

Collier and Carleton each had five fouls heading into the OT period, so it was evident that they remained on the floor. The Liberty got off to a 5-0 run to take their largest lead of the game. It was the first time all game that led had a two-possession lead.

The Lynx were completely out of it. Either they were not making their shots or they turned the ball over. They finally scored at the 1:51 mark off a pair of made free throws by McBride. At that point, there was still plenty of time for them to get back in the game.

But the Liberty’s defense made it hard for them to make any plays. The Liberty’s offense stalled which helped the Lynx and gave them a chance to tie the game. Carleton got a good look from three, but it was short which forced them to play the foul game.

Collier committed the foul, which was her sixth one so she was done for the night. Stewart went to the line and made them both, making it a two-possession game again. At that point, New York could feel the win. They ran the clock down, and that was it.

After 28 years, the Liberty finally completed the final mission. The franchise got their long awaited championship. Stewart wins her third, Vandersloot wins her second, and Jones finally gets her first. Jones was also named Finals MVP.

Photo Courtesy: @nyliberty/X

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