Basketball involves many different things, not the least of which is timing. This week, the timing was right for the Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx used every second of Game 1 to get a win on the road against the New York Liberty in an overtime thriller, 95-93. In a game controlled by New York for 39 minutes, Minnesota took their first lead of the game with 5.5 seconds remaining. A 4-point play by Courtney Williams gave Minnesota the lead that they quickly let go with a Napheesa Collier foul on Breanna Steward with less than a second left. Stewart would make one free throw to tie the game but miss the go-ahead attempt. Minnesota’s Williams would miss the final field goal attempt of regulation, sending the game to overtime.
In overtime, Minnesota made all the right plays. Lynx star Napheesa Collier scored, rebounded, and caused turnovers during overtime, which is very on-brand for Phee as her playoff stats are 27.1 points per game, 9.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals. However, in Game 1 she was not the top performer for the Lynx. That distinction went to PG Courtney Williams, who contributed 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Courtney minded her midrange for most of the game but sank 2 clutch 3-pointers, helping the Lynx steal Game 1 in NY. Minnesota became the first team in WNBA playoff history to be down by 15 points in the last 5 minutes of regulation and come back to win. The Lynx are a game closer to winning a record 5th WNBA Championship.
The Liberty seemed to have the game under control until they didn’t. Despite leading by 18 at one point in the game, outrebounding Minnesota, and winning the turnover and assist battle, their poor shooting performance left just enough space for the game to slip away from them. Former MVP Jonquel Jones led the Liberty with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists. Jones, aside from a late steal and layup, did most of her damage early in the game while New York was in control, using her size advantage to score around the basket and provide second-chance points. Ionescu had another playoff game where her shot wasn’t falling as the Liberty needed it, and despite her team doing everything they could to make up the difference, 4 of the Liberty starters finished the game with double-digit points, it wasn’t enough to hold off the Lynx. Breanna Stewart made a free-throw late to send the game into overtime then missed a layup to tie the game at the end of overtime. She ended the game with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Liberty lost their first game of the season when they led at halftime.
Last year, Stewart had a notably un-Stewart-like playoff but has bounced back this post-season. In the semi-finals against the Aces, Stewart averaged 21.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and a combined 2.3 blocks/steals while clocking 36.3 minutes per game. Stats unsurprising from the former number one overall pick and league MVP. Ionescu, herself a number one overall pick, had her own bounce back in Game 4, scoring a game-high 22 points after shooting only 14% in the Liberty’s game 3 loss to the Ace’s.
During the regular season, the Minnesota Lynx beat the New York Liberty three times, losing only once. One of the wins was the ’24 Commissioners Cup, the in-season tournament where each conference’s top team competes for $500,000 in prize money and the privilege of bragging rights for the remainder of the season. They entered the final’s after beating the Connecticut Sun in a winner-take-all game 5 that proved the Lynx are playing their best basketball, with contributions coming from players like Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, and Defensive Player of the Year, Napheesa Collier. Collier, who has averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds in three consecutive playoff games, has the highest playoff points-per-game average, 27.1 points, of any Defensive Player of the Year winner in WNBA history, has the type of game that impacts both ends of the floor.
Collier’s team relies on her offense and defense equally, as she’s the gauge of effectiveness on both ends. While her defense is often more noticeable than her offense, she can score from the 3-point line, mid-range, and paint. The dynamic nature of her offensive game makes her a matchup nightmare for defenses. Collier will draw several different Liberty defenders, and she’ll likely be responsible for defending Liberty’s most dangerous offensive weapons, Stewart and Ionescu. The series' outcome depends on how well she can handle those offensive and defensive responsibilities.
Familiar opponents lend themselves to uncovering the most minuscule details about one another and trying to take advantage. Coaches and players have already gone over similar game plans several times this season. The gameplan meetings could be an email at this point. Not much has changed about either team’s roster or how they play, so there has to be something beyond motivation, execution, and desire … there has to be an identification of something else. The team that can identify what that something is will win this series. My prediction remains that the Minnesota Lynx will win their fifth championship in franchise history, beating the New York Liberty in five games. Napheesa Collier will add WNBA Champion and Final’s MVP to her list of accomplishments.
The end is near for the ’24 WNBA Season, and we’ll be sad to see it end, but the season is leaving us with countless memorable moments and performances. Players we couldn’t recognize at the beginning of the season are favorites. Players have maximized their minutes on the court and created opportunities for themselves off the court. They’ve also voiced their opinions and altered the standards of media engagement. We’ve watched the development of coaches, organizations, and the league, and in the W, players have a significant hand in it.
Game 2 is Sunday afternoon in New York, and the Liberty hope to even the series before heading to Minnesota for games 3 and 4. Looking ahead to Game 2 the Liberty will do everything possible to avoid getting behind 0-2 in the series, while Minnesota will try to ride the wave of momentum and preside over their own version of Sunday Service.
Remaining WNBA Finals Schedule
Game 2: Minnesota at New York, Sunday (3PM. ET, ABC)
Game 3: New York at Minnesota, Wednesday, Oct. 16 (8PM. ET, ESPN)
Game 4: New York at Minnesota, Friday, Oct. 18 (8PM. ET. ESPN) (If necessary)
Game 5: Minnesota at New York, Sunday, Oct. 20 (8PM. ET. ESPN) (If necessary)
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Mark Patton is an owner of too many sneakers, a passionate and persistent advocate for public school students experiencing homelessness and a big sports fan with immaculate taste in Hip-hop music.
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