Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, with four WNBA championships under her belt, has witnessed her share of remarkable moments, but Thursday night’s dramatic 95-93 overtime win against the New York Liberty in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals was a standout. The Lynx rallied from 18 points down in the first half—matching the largest comeback in WNBA Finals history—and overcame a 15-point deficit with less than five minutes left in regulation, a first in the league’s postseason history.
"This one ranks really high," Reeve said. "It defines our team—pushing through difficult times. We’ve talked about being mentally tough and resilient. I’m thrilled we hung in there."
Napheesa Collier played the hero for Minnesota, sinking a turnaround jumper with 8.8 seconds left in overtime to seal the victory. With the score tied, Collier faked in the lane and scored, putting the Lynx ahead. New York had a final chance to tie the game, but Breanna Stewart’s layup at the buzzer fell short.
"The basketball gods were on our side tonight," said Courtney Williams, who led Minnesota with 23 points, including a crucial four-point play that sent the game to overtime with just 5.5 seconds left in regulation.
Collier had an outstanding all-around performance, finishing with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 3 steals. Game 2 of the best-of-five series is set for Sunday in New York, where the teams will battle it out again. In a noteworthy announcement before the game, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert revealed that starting next year, the Finals will expand to a best-of-seven series.
Overtime began slowly as both teams struggled offensively, but Minnesota managed to build an 88-84 lead while New York missed its first six shots. Jonquel Jones finally broke the drought for the Liberty with a corner three-pointer, but Williams responded with a three of her own, and the teams exchanged baskets in the final moments. Sabrina Ionescu’s steal and layup pulled New York within two, and Jones then stole the ball and tied the game with 28 seconds remaining. Collier’s clutch basket sealed the game for the Lynx.
The Liberty squandered an 11-point lead in the final 3:23 of regulation as Minnesota went on a 12-0 run, capped by Williams’ four-point play. New York nearly forced the win in regulation, as Stewart was fouled with 0.8 seconds left and had a chance to take the lead at the free-throw line. She made the first shot, but the second rattled off the rim, sending the game to overtime.
Reflecting on the loss, Stewart remained optimistic: "We were up a lot, then had a wild sequence at the end of the fourth, and didn’t start overtime great. I had a great look at the end and didn’t make it, but this is a series—we have another game Sunday, and we’ll be ready."
Jonquel Jones led New York with 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Ionescu added 19 and Stewart finished with 18. New York initially came out strong, building an 18-point lead in the first half. However, the Lynx fought back, tying the largest comeback in Finals history—an 18-point rally New York set in 1999 with Teresa Weatherspoon’s iconic half-court shot.
Both teams are chasing history. The Liberty are still seeking their first-ever championship, while the Lynx are gunning for a league-record fifth title. These two teams, which finished at the top of the standings in the regular season, were expected to deliver a thrilling Finals series, and Game 1 did not disappoint.
Minnesota, making its first Finals appearance since 2017, is once again a championship contender after winning four titles in seven years. The Liberty, on the other hand, are looking to avenge their loss in the 2023 Finals to the Las Vegas Aces. Despite New York winning only one of their three regular-season meetings against Minnesota, both teams acknowledged that those games had little bearing on the Finals.
Minnesota’s defense proved key once again, holding New York to just 38% shooting. Since 2011, the Lynx boast a 181-11 record when holding opponents under 40% shooting. The electric New York crowd of 17,732 fans—including Spike Lee, Jason Sudeikis, Meek Mill, and New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos—provided a spirited atmosphere, but it was the Lynx who left the court with the pivotal Game 1 victory
They've been down but not out, Courtney Williams gets the and-1 after being fouled beyond the arc đą#WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/ohHOLP9upG
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024
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