The Minnesota Lynx fell to the New York Liberty in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday night, 67-62 in overtime, securing the Liberty’s first championship in franchise history. The decisive victory marked a milestone for the team, which debuted in the WNBA on June 21, 1997, in the league’s inaugural game.
The contest was a closely contested affair, with multiple lead changes and several contentious calls by officials. With 6.3 seconds remaining, the Liberty trailed by two points. A disputed foul call sent Liberty forward Breanna Stewart to the free-throw line for two shots, where she sank both, forcing the game into overtime. In the extra period, Stewart, Nyara Sabally, and Leonie Fiebich delivered crucial shots, allowing the Liberty to pull away and seal the win.
Jonquel Jones, an eight-year veteran forward for the Liberty, was named the WNBA Finals’ MVP. She led the team in scoring in Game 5 and averaged 17.8 points per game throughout the series, having previously played for teams that fell short in the WNBA Finals. Jones reflected on her personal journey, saying, “I could never have dreamed of this. I’ve been denied so many times, but it was delayed. I’m just happy to do it here.”
Stewart, a New York native and Liberty star player, had attended Liberty games as a child. She described the feeling of winning a championship in her hometown as “an incredible feeling.” “I’ve been manifesting this moment for a while,” she said. “There’s no feeling like it. Credit to Minnesota, they gave us a tough series. The fans have been amazing everywhere we’ve gone. To bring a championship to New York, it’s an incredible feeling. I’m looking forward to continuing to celebrate with the city – it’s going to be bonkers.”
The WNBA has experienced a surge in popularity this year, largely thanks to the arrival of basketball phenom Caitlin Clark. Clark’s highly anticipated entry into the league coincided with the WNBA’s record-breaking ratings, including the most-watched regular season in 24 years, highest attendance in 22 years, and record-breaking digital consumption and merchandise sales in 2024. According to a league release, “The WNBA delivered its most-watched regular season in 24 years, finished with its highest attendance in 22 years, and set records for digital consumption and merchandise sales in 2024.”
