NEW YORK (AP) — Amid cascading confetti and the iconic melody of Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” resonating throughout the arena, the New York Liberty marked a monumental milestone: the conclusion of a 27-year journey to win their first championship.
After many near misses since their early days in Madison Square Garden, which included stints at Radio City Music Hall and the Westchester County Center, the Liberty finally reached the pinnacle of success. With a thrilling 67-62 overtime victory over Minnesota in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday night, they have brought the title back to New York.
“I’ve been envisioning this moment for a long time, and there’s nothing like it,” said Breanna Stewart. “Minnesota put up a tough fight in this series, and the support from our fans has been incredible everywhere we’ve played. To win this championship and make history for the franchise in New York is an amazing feeling. I can’t wait to celebrate with the city; it’s going to be wild.”
New York, one of the original franchises in the league, was led by Jonquel Jones, who scored 17 points. The Liberty had previously reached the WNBA Finals five times and had faced defeat each time, including last year. This time, they refused to let victory slip away, though it required an additional five minutes of play.
Despite star players Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu struggling offensively, other team members rose to the occasion. Leonie Fiebich ignited overtime with a 3-pointer, followed by Nyara Sabally’s steal and layup that pushed the score to 65-60, sending the energized sellout crowd into a frenzy.
“Typically, the first team to score in overtime comes out on top,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello noted. Minnesota managed to score only after Kayla McBride hit two free throws with 1:51 remaining in OT. The Lynx missed all six of their field goal attempts in that extra period. After Ionescu, who struggled throughout the game with 18 misses on 19 attempts, failed to convert a shot with 21 seconds remaining, Minnesota had one last shot but Bridget Carleton’s 3-pointer clanged off the rim.
In a moment of redemption, Stewart, who had missed a crucial free throw in the closing seconds of the first game, calmly sank two free throws with 10.1 seconds left in overtime, effectively sealing the Liberty’s victory.
As the clock wound down, players embraced, and colorful streamers rained down from the rafters of Barclays Center. Stewart and Jones shared a heartfelt hug, celebrating their pivotal roles in securing the team’s first-ever title since joining the Liberty as free agents two years ago.
Throughout regulation, the Liberty found themselves trailing by two points when Stewart was fouled with just 5.2 seconds left. After a lengthy video review, Stewart coolly converted both free throws, leveling the score at 60. McBride, who finished with 21 points, attempted a wide-open 3-pointer on the next play, but it failed to find the mark, leading to overtime.
Among the audience were many former Liberty legends, including Teresa Weatherspoon, who famously hit a half-court shot in the 1999 WNBA Finals to force a decisive third game. That had been the last time New York had an opportunity to compete for a championship until this year.
Jones, the only Liberty player with prior experience in a Game 5—having played in the same situation with Connecticut in 2019—was named the Finals MVP. “I could never have imagined this moment. I have faced so many setbacks, and to achieve this here makes me incredibly happy,” she shared.
Napheesa Collier led Minnesota with 22 points before fouling out with 13 seconds remaining in overtime. The Lynx were vying for a record fifth WNBA title to surpass a tie with the Seattle Storm and Houston Comets. Their four championships, won from 2011 to 2017, were powered by a star-studded roster that included Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, Sylvia Fowles, and Maya Moore. This year marked their return to the WNBA Finals.
“Congratulations to the Liberty on their first championship,” said Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve. “It took them 28 years to achieve this, and we fell just short of our fifth title.”
For the first time since 2019, the WNBA Finals went the full distance. Since the league adopted a best-of-five format in 2005, only seven series had reached a Game 5, with the home team winning five of those games, including in 2019.
This series proved to be an exhilarating conclusion to a record-setting season for the league, as all five games were closely contested, featuring two overtime matchups and dramatic last-second shots, which contributed to record viewership ratings.
The first three games each attracted an average of over a million viewers, with audience numbers increasing for every match. Attendance was also impressive, highlighted by celebrity fans like Spike Lee, who arrived courtside more than an hour before tipoff donning an Ionescu jersey. Lee, part of a sellout crowd of 18,090, witnessed history as the series set attendance records for both overall and average attendance during the WNBA Finals.
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