In the first time a winner-take-all game in the WNBA Championship Series has gone into overtime, the New York Liberty overcame a terrible shooting performance from their biggest stars to win their first championship in franchise history.
The Liberty won Game 5 of the WNBA Finals against the Minnesota Lynx with a resilient 67-62 comeback in overtime, giving New York its first major sports championship since 2012.
It was also the state’s first professional basketball title since the New York Nets won the ABA championship in 1976.
Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu finished the game 1-for-19 from the field and 1-for-10 from 3-point range and scored five points.
Breanna Stewart went 4-for-15 from the field and did not make a 3-pointer in three attempts in her 13-point performance.
The New York Liberty won its first WNBA championship after defeating the Minnesota Lynx
Breanna Stewart (pictured) and Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty to their first championship
But she was left ecstatic after playing her part in a historic triumph.
“I’ve been manifesting this moment for a while now. There is no feeling like it,” Stewart said. “Thanks to Minnesota, they gave us a tough series. The fans have been great everywhere we’ve been.
“To bring a championship to New York for the first time in franchise history is an incredible feeling. I can’t wait to continue celebrating it with the city. It’s going to be crazy.’
The only surviving WNBA founding franchise to never lift a crown in the league’s 28-year history has broken a drought that may have felt like an eternity to some.
Napheesa Collier missed a layup with less than 10 seconds left that could have nearly secured a fifth WNBA title for Minnesota. Stewart grabbed the rebound and called a timeout with 6.3 seconds left.
The final 90 seconds of regulation were highly contested with many twists and turns, starting with a rare double miss at the free throw line by Breanna Stewart.
A tap-back to Sabrina Ionescu ended with a jump ball called on the rebound. The Lynx intentionally violated the jump-ball rule to set up its defense, with Ionescu missing another three-pointer.
Ionescu finished the all-important game 1-of-19 from the field and 1-of-10 from 3-point range
The Liberty won their first championship in franchise history after a 28-year wait for the crown
They captured New York’s first major sports championship in the last twelve years
Stewart missed a shot after the inbound pass but made a highly controversial mistake, while others pointed out that the officials had also missed a trip.
‘I’m sorry, but that wasn’t a foul! Let those damn players dictate the outcome of a closely fought, tested game,” LeBron James posted on X about the series.
The error was challenged to no avail by Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. Stewart made both free throws to tie the game at 60. Kayla McBride knocked down the championship-winning 3-ponter to send the game to overtime.
New York defeated Minnesota 7–2 in overtime to secure New York’s first professional basketball championship since 1970.
