The New York Liberty leaped the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 for their first WNBA Championship. The winner-takes-all Game 5 was as dynamic as it was drama-filled. With three of the four games in this series decided by three or fewer points, there was every expectation for this game to be close. An overtime ending exceeded expectations.
For Minnesota, who were looking for a fifth WNBA Championship and upgraded status as the most decorated team in league history, Game 5 found them doing a lot of what got them there: defending. Their individual and team defense was on full display throughout the game, forcing Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu into poor shooting performances, and the Liberty looked to other players to keep the game close. Lynx team offense may have suffered in Game 5 from the defensive exertion throughout the series and went from all five starters scoring in double digits in Game 4 to only two scoring in double figures in Game 5.
Napheesa Collier added 22 points to her record-breaking playoff scoring record, 7 rebounds, and became the first player in WNBA history to have 20 steals and 20 blocks in a single postseason, proving she’s the best two-way player in the league. Certified bucket-getter Kayla McBride scored 21 points and, with only a few seconds remaining, barely missed a three-point attempt that would have likely won her team the game. Courtney Williams, who played well throughout the series, had a bad night to have a bad night. Williams was 2-14 from the field, turned the ball over 5 times, and didn’t appear to have any more of the “it” she’s proven to have plenty of, and Minnesota runs on.
Finals MVP, Jonquel Jones, was the saving grace for the Liberty. Jones finished Game 5 with 17 points and 6 rebounds. Each of her field goals fortified the Liberty while Stewart and Ionescu looked for opportunities to score. Jones' presence in the game was just enough on a night where Ionescu shot 1-19 from the field and Stewart 4-15. Another meaningful contribution for the Liberty came from fan-favorite Nyara Sabally, who finished with 13 points and 7 rebounds.
Sabally’s energy and effort were impactful on both ends of the court. Rookie and rising star Leonie Fiebich gave another solid performance with 13 points contributing to the win and breaking the record for most points scored by a rookie in WNBA Playoff history. Stewart didn’t shoot well in Game 5, but she was dominant on the boards with 15, tying her postseason high and Liberty record for a finals game. Outscoring the Lynx by 10 in the third quarter, the Liberty finally captured the lead and threw everything they had left to give into the fourth quarter and overtime. After missed free throws late in the fourth, Stewart returned to the line in overtime and made two that extended the lead to 5, making it a two-possession game, proving to be enough for a win and the 2025 WNBA Championship.
What seems like the ending to a fantastic season is also the beginning of what fans can expect from the WNBA for years to come. Loaded with young talent, top players entering their prime, ambitious plans, new fans, expansion, player empowerment, salary growth, dedication to its fanbase, increased revenue, exponential investments, and the allure of what the future holds, the WNBA is set for the type of growth spurt only basketball players can appreciate. Congratulations to the Champs!
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