1 week Ago
Open Extended Reactions NEW YORK -- The franchise that won the first game in WNBA history finally has won the last game of the season. Nearly 30 years since playing for league's inaugural championship and after several near misses, the New York Liberty are WNBA champions following a 67-62 overtime victory Sunday over the Minnesota Lynx. Breanna Stewart sealed the win with two free throws with 10.
1 seconds left in the extra period. After Leonie Fiebich stole a pass, the Liberty dribbled out the clock on a victory that was as hard-fought and dramatic as any in a Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. The Liberty prevailed 3-2 in a series marked by huge shots and big momentum shifts in the first three games.
Little separated the teams in Game 4, which the Lynx won on two free throws with two seconds left. In Game 5, before a packed house at Barclays Center, the Liberty battled back from a seven-point halftime deficit to take a 47-44 lead heading into the fourth quarter. So many years of waiting would come down to 10 minutes.
Or so it appeared. Instead, these teams -- which faced off nine times during the season, including the Commissioner's Cup final in June -- worked into overtime. With 6.
3 seconds left in regulation, the Liberty had the ball, trailing 60-58. Stewart was fouled by Alanna Smith, a call the Lynx challenged. After the challenge was ruled unsuccessful, Stewart hit both free throws to tie the game at 60-60.
Kayla McBride missed a 3-pointer for Minnesota, and the game went to overtime. In the extra period, the Liberty's points came from Fiebich, Nyara Sabally and Stewart. Sabally had her biggest game yet as a Liberty player, with 13 points and seven rebounds.
Fiebich, Sabally's German national team teammate in the Olympics, also had 13 points and seven rebounds. The Liberty won despite shooting just 30.6% from the field.
Sabrina Ionescu made just 1 of 19 shots from the field, finishing with five points. Despite those struggles, she had eight assists and..
. Michael Voepel.
