CHAMPS AT LAST: Liberty outlast Lynx to win 2024 WNBA Finals

After five previous tries, the New York Liberty have finally climbed the mountaintop of the WNBA.

New York outlasted the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 Sunday night at the Barclays Center to claim the 2024 WNBA championship – the first in franchise history. 

The Liberty have made WNBA Finals appearances in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, and most recently a season ago in 2023, but they have come up short each time around.

This was 28 years in the making as one of the WNBA’s original franchises since its inception, finally winning a league title.

Minnesota struck first early in the 1st quarter, building a 10-point lead after the Liberty’s cold shooting in the quarter. New York tried to make a run in the second quarter but was still down by 7 at the half.

It was a nip-and-tuck affair in the second half from there as both teams showed their grit and determination to win it all. The series was one of the best in WNBA Finals history with two overtime games over the 5 games played, and Game 5 was one of them.

Minnesota had a chance to win the game in regulation but Kayla McBride missed her game-winning three-point attempt at the buzzer with the score tied at 60.

New York capitalized on Minnesota’s turnovers and their bench scoring in overtime to come away with the victory.

Sabrina Ionescu, who was the hero in Game 3 after that heart-stopping game winning three, struggled mightily from the field in the game with only 5 points on a brutal 1-19 shooting. Ionescu tried to affect the game in other ways though with 7 rebounds and 8 assists, making crucial passes and hustle plays in the 4th quarter and overtime.

To pick up her slack, Breanna Stewart had 13 points and 15 rebounds while rookie Leonie Fiebich had 13 including hitting a crucial three in OT. 

Jonquel Jones was named Finals MVP for her incredible series and her 17 points (led the team) and 6 rebounds proved to be essential for the Liberty.

New York would not have won the game if it weren’t for the efforts of Nyara Sabally, who scored 13 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Sabally was not playing that many minutes in the series but when her number was called in this game she delivered, providing energy off the bench and toughness on defense.

Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride led Minnesota’s losing effort with 22 and 21 points respectively but it was not enough for Minnesota to break the tie for most championships in WNBA history.