The New York Liberty secured their long-awaited first WNBA championship with a hard-fought 67-62 overtime victory over the Minnesota Lynx in a dramatic Game 5 on Sunday night.
This triumph, after several failed attempts, finally ended the Liberty’s decades-long quest for the title, making them champions of a league they helped found.
Previously, New York had reached the Finals five times without a victory, including a heartbreaking loss last season. This time, the script was different, though it took an extra five minutes to seal their legacy.
Leading the charge for the Liberty was Jonquel Jones, who scored 17 points, delivering when her team needed it most.
The victory also broke New York City’s prolonged basketball championship drought, which had lasted since the Knicks’ NBA title in 1973.
Despite the offensive struggles of Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, the team showed their depth. Leonie Fiebich started overtime with a pivotal 3-pointer, followed by Nyara Sabally’s steal and coast-to-coast layup that pushed the Liberty ahead 65-60, sending the sellout crowd at Barclays Center into a frenzy.
The Minnesota Lynx, in pursuit of a historic fifth WNBA title, failed to score a field goal in overtime, missing all six of their shots.
Their only points came from two free throws by Kayla McBride with 1:51 remaining, but it wasn’t enough to overcome New York’s determined defense. With 21 seconds left, Ionescu’s shooting woes continued as she missed her 18th shot out of 19 attempts.
Minnesota had one last chance, but Bridget Carleton’s 3-pointer with 16 seconds left clanged off the rim.
Stewart, who had previously missed a crucial free throw with less than a second left in Game 1, redeemed herself by sinking two from the line with 10.1 seconds remaining, sealing the win.
As the final moments ticked away, Liberty players embraced on the court while celebratory streamers rained down from above, marking a moment of triumph for the team and their loyal fans.
For Minnesota, the loss was a bitter end to a remarkable season. Napheesa Collier, who fouled out with 13 seconds left in overtime, led the Lynx with 22 points.
The team was aiming to break the tie for most WNBA titles with the Seattle Storm and Houston Comets.
Minnesota had previously claimed four championships between 2011 and 2017, with a core led by legends like Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, Sylvia Fowles, and Maya Moore. This year marked their return to the Finals after a six-year absence.
This thrilling series was a fitting conclusion to what has been a historic year for the WNBA.
All five games came down to the wire, featuring two overtime finishes and a last-second buzzer-beater, which helped the league set new records for viewership and ratings.
Each of the first three games averaged over a million viewers, with increasing interest as the series progressed. The Finals also shattered attendance records, with packed arenas throughout the series.
In Game 5, New York’s Barclays Center hosted a sellout crowd of 18,090, including notable fans like filmmaker Spike Lee, who was spotted courtside in a Sabrina Ionescu jersey long before the game began.
Lee’s presence further underscored the significance of the moment, as he cheered on his hometown team alongside thousands of passionate Liberty supporters.
The 2024 edition marked the first time since 2019 that the WNBA Finals went the full distance. Since adopting the best-of-five format in 2005, only seven other Finals series have gone to a decisive Game 5, with home teams now winning six of those matchups, including the Liberty’s historic victory.
