NEW YORK — The New York Liberty had Recreation 1 within the palm of their fingers.
Up 15 factors with 5:20 to play on their dwelling court docket, dealing with a Minnesota Lynx workforce that had simply gone to 5 video games towards the Connecticut Solar and didn’t also have a probability to follow earlier than the WNBA Finals, the Liberty merely needed to put the ending touches on a snug series-opening victory.
As an alternative, the Lynx clawed again and stole an absolute heartbreaker from New York. Courtney Williams gave Minnesota its first lead of the sport on a four-point play with 5.5 seconds to play, oddly approaching an offensive rebound on an evening when the Lynx have been in any other case destroyed on the glass.
The Liberty compelled additional time, however the momentum had switched. Minnesota took a fast four-point lead in additional time, and 2024 Defensive Participant of the Yr Napheesa Collier closed it out with a jumper and stout protection on Breanna Stewart on the opposite finish.
It’s the primary WNBA Finals collection that includes UConn greats main their respective groups, and the youthful Collier obtained the higher of her former mentor and future Unequalled enterprise companion Stewart because the Lynx got here away with a stunning 95-93 win in additional time.
The sport deciding shot by Napheesa Collier is NASTY 😈
THE @minnesotalynx TAKE GAME 1 OF THE #WNBAFinals introduced by @YouTubeTV WITH A FINAL SCORE OF 95-93 pic.twitter.com/4DO4NXLoG5
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024
Minnesota turned to a small lineup down the stretch, changing middle Alanna Smith with level guard Natisha Hiedeman, and the swap flustered New York. The Lynx have been already struggling to rebound, so downsizing didn’t add any extra problems on the glass, whereas the tempo juiced their offense.
The Liberty couldn’t defend 5 shooters, and Minnesota hit jumpers on six of the following 9 possessions to shut the hole.
New York didn’t make the most of its measurement benefit inside, as Jonquel Jones couldn’t get sufficient touches on the ultimate possessions. As soon as the Lynx have been in placing distance, that they had the arrogance of a workforce that went 3-1 towards the Liberty previous to the finals, together with a win on this court docket lower than one month in the past.
Williams led the best way with 23 factors, adopted intently by Kayla McBride’s 22 and Collier’s 21. Hiedeman chipped in 10 off the bench and Minnesota totaled 9 blocks and eight steals to do exactly sufficient to include New York’s offense within the closing minutes. The Lynx take a 1-0 collection lead into Recreation 2 on Sunday.
WNBA Finals rating and stay updates: Minnesota Lynx come again to beat New York Liberty in OT
Liberty’s offense goes chilly throughout key stretches
Because the Liberty watch the movie, they are going to discover two stretches that considerably contributed to their eventual defeat. The workforce led 41-24 with 5:14 to go after Stewart hit a 12-foot jumper. Then their offense went chilly, scoring solely three factors the remainder of the half and permitting Minnesota to slice its deficit to eight.
Within the fourth quarter, the Liberty led by 15 factors with 5:20 to play however scored solely three factors for the remainder of regulation because the Lynx’s protection once more stiffened. Mixed over the ultimate five-plus minutes of regulation and the primary 3:19 of additional time, New York scored solely three factors. — Ben Pickman, WNBA employees author
Williams comes alive within the second half
Williams hit Recreation 1’s greatest singular shot — a four-point play with 5.5 seconds remaining in regulation — however her affect went past simply that look. Williams scored 15 of her 24 factors within the fourth quarter and additional time, silencing Liberty followers inside Barclays Heart on a number of events. She wasn’t alone, after all, as McBride and Collier each scored greater than 20 factors, however Williams once more made well timed pictures.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve has praised Williams’ affect all through the postseason, however no sequence will higher outline her Minnesota tenure than her closing stretch of Recreation 1. — Pickman
They have been down however not out, Courtney Williams will get the and-1 after being fouled past the arc 😱#WNBAFinals introduced by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/ohHOLP9upG
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024
Required studying
(Photograph: Elsa / Getty Photos)
