In a historic moment for the New York Liberty, the team won its first championship in franchise history by defeating the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in an intense overtime thriller. The Liberty, the only original WNBA franchise without a championship, had lost in their previous five finals appearances, most recently in 2023. Led by Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fiebich, and Nyara Sabally, the Liberty made a comeback after falling behind early in Game 5, eventually tying the game in regulation before winning in overtime. Stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu struggled in the final game, with Stewart only scoring 13 points and Ionescu scoring five on 1 of 19 shooting. Ionescu had previously hit a game-winning shot in Game 3 to give the Liberty a 2-1 lead in the series. The series saw back-and-forth games, with Minnesota winning Game 1 in overtime, the Liberty responding with a win in Game 2, and the Lynx edging out a win in Game 4. Forward Napheesa Collier led the Lynx in the playoffs and scored 22 points in the final game, but fouled out late in overtime. The Liberty’s victory marked a significant moment in their history and a breakthrough for the team after years of coming close to a championship win.
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