New York Liberty Defeat the Minnesota Lynx To Clinch Their Maiden WNBA Title

New York City finally has a pro basketball champion following New York Liberty’s title clinching Game 5 win over the Minnesota Lynx. The Liberty overcame the Lynx by a scoreline of 67-62 thanks to clutch performances by Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart.

Jonquel Jones scored 17 points, while also registering 6 rebounds in 42 minutes of playing time. Meanwhile, Breanna Stewart also chipped in with a crucial performance, racking up 13 points and 15 rebounds in 45 minutes of playing time. But despite Jones and Stewart’s exceptional performances, New York needed overtime to clinch their maiden WNBA title in their 28-year history. The New York Liberty had previously reached five finals – including last year – but they always fell short of the coveted WNBA trophy. However, they weren’t to be denied this time around. After 28 long years of waiting, Liberty finally claimed their moment, and Madison Square Garden erupted in celebration as confetti rained down for a New York pro basketball team at last. 

Following their historic win, Liberty legend Breanna Stewart said, “I’ve been manifesting this moment for a while, 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, first ever in franchise history it’s an incredible feeling. I can’t wait to continue to celebrate with the city. It’s going to be bonkers.” While Stewart proved to be a colossus on the defensive end of the court, she struggled on offense. So, with Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu – two of the biggest names in WNBA – struggling on the offensive end of the floor, others had to step up. And that’s exactly what happened. 

Besides Jonquel Jones’ stellar performance, Leonie Fiebich and Nayara Sabally made important contributions to Liberty’s overtime win over Lynx. Fiebich racked up 13 points and 7 rebounds in 40 minutes of playing, while Sabally scored 13 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in just 17 minutes of playing time. Sabally turned out to be the game-changer, delivering a crucial spark off the bench that the Liberty desperately needed. It was a true test of endurance, as the title-deciding game headed into overtime. The New York Liberty struck first, building a five-point lead with a clutch 3-pointer from Fiebich and a smooth lay-up from Sabally. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Lynx struggled to find their rhythm, going scoreless in OT until Kayla McBride finally sank two free throws with just 1:51 left on the clock. The Lynx missed all six of their field-goal attempts during overtime, leaving them with little hope. 

With 21 seconds remaining, Ionescu missed her 18th shot out of 19 attempts, giving the Lynx a glimmer of hope. However, Bridget Carleton’s potential game-tying 3-pointer missed the mark with 16 seconds to go. After falling short at the line in Game 1 with 0.8 seconds remaining, Breanna Stewart made no such mistake this time around. She calmly knocked down two free throws with 10.1 seconds left in OT, sealing the hard-fought victory for the Liberty.