Liberty finally get it done, top Lynx in overtime for first WNBA championship

NEW YORK — As confetti fell and Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” blared by means of the world, the New York Liberty celebrated the tip of a 27-year odyssey.

The staff that at all times fell brief, ranging from their days in Madison Sq. Backyard, by means of detours to Radio Metropolis Music Corridor and Westchester County Heart, lastly discovered their strategy to the highest.

Begin spreading the information, certainly: There’s lastly a professional basketball champion in New York once more after a 67-62 additional time win over Minnesota in Recreation 5 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday night time.

“I have been manifesting this second for awhile, There isn’t any feeling prefer it,” Breanna Stewart mentioned. “Credit score to Minnesota they gave us a tricky sequence. The followers have been superb all over the place we have gone. To convey a championship to New York, first ever in franchise historical past it is an unbelievable feeling. I am unable to wait to proceed to have a good time with the town. It should be bonkers.”

NY Liberty ticker tape parade coming to Canyon of Heroes

New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams says the town will maintain a ticker tape parade to have a good time the Liberty and their championship victory. 

“From the beginning of the season to the final sport, the New York Liberty had been centered on one singular goal: successful. Tonight, they delivered a historic win — making our nice metropolis proud by turning into champions, the primary within the franchise’s historical past,” Adams mentioned in a press release. “At a time when the remainder of the nation is lastly acknowledging the countless expertise in our WNBA, we’re proud to have New York Metropolis convey dwelling the trophy. To our WNBA champions, thanks for being a job mannequin to our metropolis, and showcasing the values of grit, dedication, and laborious work. Now, we will not wait to have a good time off the courtroom and throw you the parade you deserve down the Canyon of Heroes!”

Adams mentioned he’ll launch extra particulars concerning the parade Monday, and mentioned Metropolis Corridor and 4 different municipal buildings will probably be lit up in seafoam inexperienced Monday night time. 

Liberty beat Lynx to win 2024 WNBA Finals

Jonquel Jones scored 17 factors to guide New York, which was one of many authentic franchises within the league. The Liberty made the WNBA Finals 5 occasions earlier than, shedding each, together with final season. This time they would not be denied, though it took an additional 5 minutes.

With stars Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu struggling on offense, different gamers stepped up. Leonie Fiebich began off OT with a 3-pointer, after which Nyara Sabally had a steal for a layup to make it 65-60 and produce the sellout crowd to a frenzied state.

“Whoever scores in additional time first normally wins,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello mentioned.

Minnesota did not rating in OT till Kayla McBride hit two free throws with 1:51 left. The Lynx missed all six of their subject aim makes an attempt in additional time. After Ionescu missed a shot with 21 seconds left, her 18th miss on 19 shot makes an attempt, the Lynx had one final likelihood, however Bridget Carleton missed a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left.

Stewart, who missed a free throw with 0.8 seconds left ultimately of regulation in Recreation 1, hit two free throws with 10.1 seconds left in additional time to seal the victory.

As the ultimate seconds ticked off the clock the gamers hugged and streamers fell from the rafters. Stewart and Jones hugged. The 2 prize free agent signees two years in the past that helped get this staff its first title.

New York trailed by two in regulation when Stewart was fouled with 5.2 seconds left. After a prolonged video overview, Stewart calmly hit two free throws to tie the sport at 60.

Kayla McBride, who completed with 21 factors, had an open search for a 3, nevertheless it fell off the rim and the sport went to OT.

Most of the former Liberty greats had been within the viewers, together with Teresa Weatherspoon, who hit a half-court heave within the 1999 WNBA Finals to pressure a decisive Recreation 3 that yr. That was the final time that New York had an opportunity to play in a championship-deciding sport till this yr.

Jones, who was the one participant on the Liberty to compete in a Recreation 5 earlier than when she was with Connecticut in 2019, earned MVP honors.

“I might by no means dream of this. You know the way many occasions I have been denied. It was delayed. I’m so completely satisfied to do it right here,” she mentioned.

Napheesa Collier scored 22 factors to guide Minnesota earlier than fouling out with 13 seconds left in OT.

The Lynx had been attempting for a document fifth WNBA title, breaking a tie with the Seattle Storm and Houston Comets. Minnesota received 4 titles from 2011-17 behind the core group of Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, Sylvia Fowles and Maya Moore. That was the staff’s final look within the WNBA Finals till this yr.

“Congratulations to the Liberty on their first championship,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve mentioned. “It took them 28 years, congrats to them. We had been that near our fifth, it simply did not occur.”

That is the primary time since 2019 that the WNBA Finals have gone the space. Because the league switched to a best-of-five format in 2005, seven different sequence have gone to a Recreation 5 and the house staff had received 5 of these earlier contests, together with in 2019.

This sequence has been a becoming conclusion to a record-breaking season for the league. All 5 video games got here all the way down to the previous couple of possessions and have included two additional time video games and a last-second shot, which have led to document scores.

The primary three video games every had over 1,000,000 viewers on common, with the viewers rising for every contest. Additionally they have had big crowds in attendance.

Liberty fan Spike Lee was courtside over an hour earlier than tipoff chatting with the media whereas sporting his Ionescu jersey. As soon as Ionescu completed warming up pregame, the pair had a quick change and hugged. Lee was a part of a sellout crowd of 18,090 that helped this sequence set each the general attendance document for a WNBA Finals in addition to the common attendance mark.