For the first time ever, the New York Liberty are WNBA Champions after a thrilling Game 5 win in overtime.
For the first time ever, the New York Liberty are WNBA champions.
The Liberty needed five extra minutes to put away the Minnesota Lynx, taking the deciding Game 5 in overtime, 67-62, at the Barclays Arena Monday (PHL time).
Breanna Stewart made up for an early blunder by sinking two clutch free throws with 5.2 seconds to go, pushing the game to a 60-all tie.
Stewie actually had the chance to force the deadlock earlier, but she missed two at the line with 38 seconds remaining.
In overtime, Leonie Fiebich started the scoring with a booming triple, which was followed by a Nyara Sabally layup. That initial two-minute stretch proved to be the difference New York needed to take its breakthrough WNBA title.
The Liberty had previously lost five WNBA Finals, including last year against the Las Vegas Aces.
Minnesota actually had a chance to force a second overtime, but Bridget Carleton missed a three with 16 seconds to go, Stewart then nailed two more clutch free throws to seal the win for the Liberty.
WNBA Finals MVP Jonquel Jones led New York in scoring with 17 points.
Stewart, who hiked her WNBA title count to three with the win, added 13 points and 15 rebounds. Fiebich and Sabally also added 13 each for the Liberty.
Sabrina Ionescu, who drilled the clutch three in Game 3 that allowed New York to initially take control of the series, was limited to just five points on a woeful 1/19 shooting. However, she did have seven rebounds, eight assists, and two steals.
The Lynx got 22 points from Napheesa Collier and another 21 points Kayla McBride.