The New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx faced off Sunday in an intense, winner-takes-all game 5 of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) finals. 

The Liberty came into the game looking for their first-ever championship. The Lynx, on the other hand — holding a shared WNBA record of 4 franchise championships — were seeking a fifth title. 

The Liberty were not in unfamiliar territory, however, having appeared in five different finals since being chartered as a WNBA team in 1996, the latest was last year in the 2023 finals when they lost to A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces. 

Throughout the series, the Liberty’s leading scorer Breanna Stewart and her lights-out shooter co-star Sabrina Ionescu were crucial. 

For the Lynx, their 2024 defensive player of the year Napheesa Collier and shifty offensive playmaker Courtney Williams had led the way. 

Entering game 5, the Liberty had outscored the Lynx 333-320, three of the games having been decided by 3 points or less and the Liberty having scored at least 80 points in each game. 

With the chance to win their first-ever franchise championship, fans packed the Liberty’s home court — Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, N.Y. — and were roaring in a cry of excitement. 

However, there was little to cheer for as the game started very shakily for both teams, with early nerves leading to poor shooting on both sides. The Liberty remained scoreless through the first four minutes of the game, while Collier dominated the points scoring in the paint and pushing the Lynx well ahead in the opening minutes. 

Both teams, however, were in a severe 3-point slump throughout the game, the Liberty shooting only 8.7% compared to the Lynx’s also poor 15.2%. Co-stars Ionescu and Stewart both finished the first quarter with 0 points, combining for a 0-8 shooting record and finishing the game for a combined 5-34 (14.7%). 

Luckily for the Liberty, an unusual star came to rise in Nyara Sabally, who came off the bench to provide crucial off-ball playmaking and outstanding defense to prevent the Lynx from taking off in the first quarter. The pace eventually began to slow down after the first timeout and each team was able to put together organized plays by the time the second quarter began. 

Throughout the second quarter, the Lynx played with more fluidity, creating open looks in the paint with crisp passing. The Liberty, on the other hand, remained stagnant, relying on isolation plays while lacking off-ball movement.

Yet, the Liberty’s Jonquel Jones used her size and strength to bully her way to the basket for some easy points, helping the Liberty slowly chip away at the Lynx lead and recording herself 17 points and 6 rebounds. 

While the Lynx struggled to find an answer to Jones’s overpowering strength on defense, their offense still proved to be efficient through the two-way playmaking of Kayla McBride, who finished the game with 21 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds. 

Towards the end of the first half, the game returned to its original chaotic nature with the Liberty putting immense defensive pressure on the Lynx, forcing 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in the last minute of the half. Despite the Liberty’s aggressive efforts, the Lynx closed out the first half with a 34-27 lead. 

Starting the second half down by 6 points, the Liberty came out with fire under their feet, looking ready to finally collect the trophy they had long yearned for.

Midway through the third quarter, Sabally tied the game for the first time and the stadium erupted in a loud roar in support of their own New York Liberty. Only moments later, Sabally again laid it to give the Liberty their first lead of the game and forced a timeout. 

The atmosphere in the arena turned electric as the Liberty and Lynx traded blows, keeping the game close through the fourth quarter, with the Liberty clinging to a three-point lead. 

The fourth quarter began similarly to the end of the third with both teams trading off points. But suddenly, the Lynx took a huge blow 2 minutes in when Alanna Smith reinjured her back, which had bothered her previously in the series, requiring her to leave the game temporarily. 

With 40 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Stewart, who had struggled all game, was up to shoot 2 free throws. With the Liberty down 2 points, it was crucial to tie the game. She missed both, but then, with 5 seconds left, she was given a second chance on the line to tie the game. This time, she connected with the bottom of the net on both, forcing overtime. 

Overtime began with a statement 3-pointer by Leonie Fiebich. Shortly after, Collier fouled out of the game — early in overtime — after recording 22 points, 2 assists and 7 rebounds as the Lynx’s leading scorer. 

Throughout the period, the Liberty played with fire, dominating the offensive possessions and only allowing 2 points, as they outscored the Lynx 67-62 to secure their first-ever franchise championship 28 years after being founded.