New York Liberty Wins First WNBA Championship, defeating Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in Overtime

As confetti cascaded down and Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” resonated throughout the arena, the New York Liberty marked the conclusion of a lengthy journey.

The team, historically known for falling short, from their beginnings at Madison Square Garden to their various stops at Radio City Music Hall and Westchester County Center, has finally ascended to the pinnacle of success.

Indeed, the news is spreading: New York has a professional basketball champion once more, following a hard-fought 67-62 overtime victory against Minnesota in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday evening.

“I have been envisioning this moment for quite some time; there is no sensation quite like it,” stated Breanna Stewart. “Kudos to Minnesota for providing us with a challenging series. The support from fans has been remarkable wherever we have played. Bringing a championship to New York, the first in franchise history, is an extraordinary achievement. I eagerly anticipate celebrating with the city; it is going to be exhilarating.”

Jonquel Jones led New York with 17 points, contributing to a team that is one of the league's original franchises. The Liberty had previously reached the WNBA Finals five times, suffering defeats each time, including last season. This time, they would not be denied, even though it required an additional five minutes.

With stars Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu facing challenges on the offensive end, other team members rose to the occasion. Leonie Fiebich initiated overtime with a three-pointer, followed by Nyara Sabally, who contributed 13 points and made a crucial steal leading to a layup, extending the score to 65-60 and igniting the enthusiasm of the packed crowd.

"Typically, the team that scores first in overtime secures the win," remarked Liberty coach Sandy Brondello.

Minnesota struggled offensively in overtime, not scoring until Kayla McBride converted two free throws with 1:51 remaining. The Lynx were unable to make any of their six field goal attempts during this period. After Ionescu's missed shot with 21 seconds left—marking her 18th miss out of 19 attempts—the Lynx had one final opportunity, but Bridget Carleton's three-point attempt with 16 seconds remaining was unsuccessful.

Stewart, who had previously missed a free throw with just 0.8 seconds left in regulation during Game 1, successfully made two free throws with 10.1 seconds remaining in overtime, securing the victory.

READ ALSO: New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx set to face off in WNBA Finals

As the final moments elapsed, players embraced one another while streamers cascaded from the rafters at Barclays Center. Stewart and Jones shared a hug, celebrating their contributions as key free agent signings two years prior that led the team to its inaugural title.

New York was down by two points in regulation when Stewart was fouled with 5.2 seconds remaining. Following an extensive video review, Stewart confidently converted two free throws to equalize the score at 60. Minnesota contested the foul call, and after the game, coach Cheryl Reeve expressed her discontent, claiming the championship was unjustly taken from her team.

McBride, who concluded the game with 21 points, had a clear opportunity for a three-pointer, but it bounced off the rim, resulting in overtime.

Numerous former Liberty legends were present in the audience, including Teresa Weatherspoon, who famously made a half-court shot in the 1999 WNBA Finals to force a decisive Game 3, marking the last time New York had a chance to compete in a championship-deciding game until this season.

Jones, the sole Liberty player with prior experience in a Game 5 during her time with Connecticut in 2019, was awarded MVP honors.

I could have never imagined this moment. You are aware of the numerous times I faced rejection. The process was prolonged. I am truly delighted to experience it here, she expressed.

Napheesa Collier led Minnesota with 22 points before fouling out with just 13 seconds remaining in overtime.

The Lynx aimed for a historic fifth WNBA title, which would have placed them ahead of the Seattle Storm and Houston Comets. Minnesota secured four championships from 2011 to 2017, supported by a core group that included Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, Sylvia Fowles, and Maya Moore. This marked the team's first return to the WNBA Finals since that period.

“Congratulations to the Liberty on their inaugural championship,” Reeve remarked. “It took them 28 years to achieve this, and I commend them. We were so close to our fifth title, but it just didn’t materialize.”

This marks the first instance since 2019 that the WNBA Finals have reached a decisive Game 5. Since the league adopted a best-of-five format in 2005, there have been seven other series that extended to a Game 5, with the home team winning five of those encounters, including in 2019.

This series has served as a fitting finale to a record-setting season for the league. Each of the five games was decided in the final moments and featured two overtime matches and a last-second shot, contributing to unprecedented viewership ratings.

The first three games attracted over a million viewers on average, with the audience increasing for each subsequent match. Additionally, the attendance figures were remarkable.

Liberty supporter Spike Lee was present courtside more than an hour before the game, engaging with the media while donning his Ionescu jersey. Following Ionescu's pregame warm-up, the two shared a brief conversation and embraced. Lee was part of a sellout crowd of 18,090, which helped set both the overall attendance record for a WNBA Finals and the average attendance record.

SportsLigue