Minnesota Lynx stun New York Liberty with 95-93 overtime win in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals
NEW YORK (AP) Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve has seen a lot in her incredible career that's included four WNBA championships.
The historic rally by the Lynx to beat New York 95-93 in a wild Game 1 of the WNBA Finals ranks right up there as one of the best moments.
“We’re the first team in WNBA playoff history to be down 15 (in the final 5 minutes) and come back and win the game,” Reeve said. “So that ranks really high. I think it defines our team. Getting through difficult times. That’s what we’ve been talking about. You have to be mentally tough, resilient. ... Thrilled that we could hang in there.”
Minnesota rallied from 18 points down in the first half and Napheesa Collier's turnaround jumper with 8.8 seconds left in overtime lifted the team to the win over the New York Liberty on Thursday night.
With the game tied, Collier faked in the lane and scored. New York had a chance to tie it but Breanna Stewart’s layup at the buzzer was off.
"The basketball gods were on our side tonight," said Courtney Williams, who had 23 points, including a four-point play with 5.5 seconds left in regulation, to lead Minnesota.
Collier finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, six blocks and three steals.
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Sunday in New York. Before the game, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the league is expanding the Finals to best-of-seven starting next year.
The OT got off to a slow start before Minnesota built an 88-84 advantage as New York missed its first six shots. Jonquel Jones finally got the Liberty on the board with a corner 3-pointer with 1:38 left. Williams answered with her own 3-pointer and the teams traded baskets over the next minute. Sabrina Ionescu's steal in the backcourt and layup got New York within 93-91 with 32.9 left.
Jones then stole the ball at midcourt and scored to tie it four seconds later. Minnesota worked the clock down before Collier's basket broke the tie.
The Liberty blew an 11-point lead in the final 3:23 of regulation when Minnesota scored 12 straight points, capped by Williams’ four-point play.
The Liberty made the most of the last few seconds in regulation. After Stewart’s first shot was blocked with a second left and went out of bounds, Ionescu inbounded the ball to her under the basket and she was fouled. The officials reviewed the play to see if the foul occurred before the buzzer sounded and deemed that it did awarding Stewart two free throws with 0.8 seconds left.
She hit the first of two free throws with the second one rolling off the rim. Williams’ shot on the other end was off and the game headed to OT.
“We just take it on the chin, you know. We were up a lot and then we had a wild kind of sequence to end the fourth,” Stewart said. “Didn’t start overtime great. I had a great look at the end and I didn’t make it. But I think that this is a series. We wanted to really win, obviously, for home court. But the beauty is, we have another game on Sunday and we’ll be ready.”
Jones led New York with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Ionescu finished with 19 and Stewart had 18.
New York came right at Minnesota, which was playing just two days after beating Connecticut in the semifinals. The Liberty built an 18-point lead in the first half before the Lynx rallied.
The 18-point rally tied the New York Liberty’s record they set in 1999 in Game 2 of the Finals that ended with Teresa Weatherspoon’s historic halfcourt shot.
Both teams are looking to make history in this series. The Liberty are looking for the franchise’s first championship while the Lynx are vying for a league-record fifth. They were the best teams during the regular season, finishing in the top two spots in the standings.
New York is in the finals for the second consecutive year and is hoping to erase the scar of losing to the Las Vegas Aces in 2023. Minnesota is making its first appearance in the championship round since 2017, when the team won its fourth title in a seven-year span.
The Liberty had lost two of the three regular-season meetings to Minnesota and the Commissioner’s Cup championship, but both teams have said that those games didn’t really matter heading into the championship.
The Lynx were able to hold Jones in check in all three of the wins with the Liberty’s star center scoring in single digits each time. She reached double figures by the end of the first quarter on Thursday.
Minnesota held New York to 38% shooting and improved to 181-11 since 2011 when the team holds an opponent under 40% shooting.
The star-studded New York crowd of 17,732 was loud and spirited as it has been all season. Spike Lee, Jason Sudeikis, Meek Mill and New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos were all in attendance. Lee was wearing an Ionescu jersey.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 1st Quarter | |||
10:00 | Jump Ball: Jonquel Jones vs. Napheesa Collier. | |||
9:46 | Sabrina Ionescu steals the ball from Alanna Smith. | |||
9:46 | Courtney Williams with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:46 | Sabrina Ionescu steals the ball from Alanna Smith. | |||
9:26 | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a layup. | 0-2 | |
9:26 | Shooting foul committed by Courtney Williams. | |||
9:26 | +1 | Jonquel Jones makes free throw 1 of 1. | 0-3 | |
9:04 | Kayla McBride misses a jump shot from 3 feet out. | |||
9:04 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:42 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton misses a jump shot from 21 feet out. | |||
8:42 | Breanna Stewart with an offensive rebound. | |||
8:37 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a layup. | 0-5 | |
8:19 | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a layup. | 2-5 | |
8:05 | Breanna Stewart misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
8:05 | Napheesa Collier with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:49 | +3 | Kayla McBride makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 5-5 | |
7:28 | +3 | Leonie Fiebich makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with the assist. | 5-8 | |
7:02 | Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | |||
7:02 | Breanna Stewart with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:50 | Jonquel Jones misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
6:50 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with an offensive rebound. | |||
6:44 | +3 | Breanna Stewart makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with the assist. | 5-11 | |
6:24 | Sabrina Ionescu steals the ball from Bridget Carleton. | |||
6:14 | +3 | Leonie Fiebich makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Jonquel Jones with the assist. | 5-14 | |
6:04 | Lynx take a full timeout. | |||
5:55 | +3 | Bridget Carleton makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Kayla McBride with the assist. | 8-14 | |
5:41 | Leonie Fiebich misses a jump shot from 5 feet out. | |||
5:41 | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:26 | Personal foul committed by Breanna Stewart. | |||
5:20 | Alanna Smith misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
5:20 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:02 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. | |||
5:02 | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:46 | Alanna Smith misses a layup. | |||
4:46 | Leonie Fiebich with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:36 | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a jump shot from 10 feet out. Leonie Fiebich with the assist. | 8-16 | |
4:36 | Shooting foul committed by Bridget Carleton. | |||
4:36 | Substitution: Kayla Thornton in for Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. | |||
4:36 | +1 | Jonquel Jones makes free throw 1 of 1. | 8-17 | |
4:21 | Alanna Smith with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
4:14 | Personal foul committed by Alanna Smith. | |||
4:14 | Substitution: Myisha Hines-Allen in for Alanna Smith. | |||
4:05 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a jump shot from 7 feet out. | |||
4:05 | Jonquel Jones with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:00 | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a layup. | 8-19 | |
3:53 | Shooting foul committed by Kayla Thornton. | |||
3:53 | +1 | Kayla McBride makes free throw 1 of 2. | 9-19 | |
3:53 | +1 | Kayla McBride makes free throw 2 of 2. | 10-19 | |
3:37 | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a layup. | 10-21 | |
3:27 | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. | 12-21 | |
2:59 | Napheesa Collier blocks a Breanna Stewart jump shot from 17 feet out. | |||
2:59 | Breanna Stewart with an offensive rebound. | |||
2:59 | Liberty with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | |||
2:46 | Napheesa Collier misses a jump shot from 8 feet out. | |||
2:46 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:37 | Breanna Stewart misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | |||
2:37 | Myisha Hines-Allen with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:30 | Myisha Hines-Allen misses a layup. | |||
2:30 | Liberty with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:06 | Breanna Stewart misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
2:06 | Liberty with an offensive rebound. | |||
2:06 | Substitution: Nyara Sabally in for Leonie Fiebich. | |||
2:06 | Substitution: Courtney Vandersloot in for Jonquel Jones. | |||
2:06 | Substitution: Cecilia Zandalasini in for Bridget Carleton. | |||
1:54 | Kayla Thornton misses a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | |||
1:54 | Nyara Sabally with an offensive rebound. | |||
1:48 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
1:48 | Courtney Vandersloot with an offensive rebound. | |||
1:41 | +3 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Courtney Vandersloot with the assist. | 12-24 | |
1:23 | Nyara Sabally blocks a Kayla McBride layup. | |||
1:23 | Courtney Vandersloot with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:20 | +3 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Courtney Vandersloot with the assist. | 12-27 | |
1:11 | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a layup. | 14-27 | |
1:00 | +2 | Courtney Vandersloot makes a layup. | 14-29 | |
1:00 | Shooting foul committed by Courtney Williams. | |||
1:00 | Substitution: Natisha Hiedeman in for Courtney Williams. | |||
1:00 | +1 | Courtney Vandersloot makes free throw 1 of 1. | 14-30 | |
43.6 | +2 | Myisha Hines-Allen makes a layup. Natisha Hiedeman with the assist. | 16-30 | |
43.6 | Shooting foul committed by Breanna Stewart. | |||
43.6 | +1 | Myisha Hines-Allen makes free throw 1 of 1. | 17-30 | |
26.1 | +2 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a jump shot from 12 feet out. | 17-32 | |
10.3 | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a jump shot from 14 feet out. | 19-32 | |
0.0 | End of the 1st Quarter |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 2nd Quarter | |||
9:41 | Napheesa Collier misses a layup. | |||
9:41 | Liberty with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:29 | Myisha Hines-Allen steals the ball from Courtney Vandersloot. | |||
9:22 | Courtney Vandersloot blocks a Myisha Hines-Allen layup. | |||
9:22 | Lynx with an offensive rebound. | |||
9:17 | Kayla McBride misses a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | |||
9:17 | Kennedy Burke with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:06 | Cecilia Zandalasini steals the ball from Jonquel Jones. | |||
8:49 | +2 | Myisha Hines-Allen makes a layup. Cecilia Zandalasini with the assist. | 21-32 | |
8:40 | Liberty take a full timeout. | |||
8:40 | Substitution: Bridget Carleton in for Kayla McBride. | |||
8:27 | +2 | Courtney Vandersloot makes a jump shot from 18 feet out. Jonquel Jones with the assist. | 21-34 | |
8:10 | Napheesa Collier misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
8:10 | Courtney Vandersloot with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:05 | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a layup. Courtney Vandersloot with the assist. | 21-36 | |
8:05 | Shooting foul committed by Napheesa Collier. | |||
8:05 | Substitution: Leonie Fiebich in for Kennedy Burke. | |||
8:05 | Substitution: Breanna Stewart in for Sabrina Ionescu. | |||
8:05 | Substitution: Alanna Smith in for Napheesa Collier. | |||
8:05 | +1 | Jonquel Jones makes free throw 1 of 1. | 21-37 | |
7:49 | Cecilia Zandalasini misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
7:49 | Liberty with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:30 | Leonie Fiebich misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
7:30 | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:18 | Myisha Hines-Allen with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
7:18 | Substitution: Courtney Williams in for Natisha Hiedeman. | |||
7:08 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | |||
7:08 | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:50 | Bridget Carleton misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
6:50 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:29 | +2 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a layup. Courtney Vandersloot with the assist. | 21-39 | |
6:18 | Lynx take a full timeout. | |||
6:18 | Substitution: Kayla McBride in for Myisha Hines-Allen. | |||
6:18 | Substitution: Napheesa Collier in for Cecilia Zandalasini. | |||
6:01 | Courtney Williams misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
6:01 | Lynx with an offensive rebound. | |||
6:01 | Substitution: Sabrina Ionescu in for Courtney Vandersloot. | |||
5:54 | Alanna Smith misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
5:54 | Courtney Williams with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:46 | +3 | Kayla McBride makes a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. Napheesa Collier with the assist. | 24-39 | |
5:32 | Jump Ball: Breanna Stewart vs. Napheesa Collier. | |||
5:21 | Napheesa Collier blocks a Sabrina Ionescu jump shot from 23 feet out. | |||
5:21 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:14 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a jump shot from 12 feet out. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with the assist. | 24-41 | |
5:04 | +2 | Alanna Smith makes a layup. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 26-41 | |
4:43 | Leonie Fiebich misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
4:43 | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:15 | Lynx with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | |||
4:15 | Substitution: Nyara Sabally in for Jonquel Jones. | |||
4:07 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | |||
4:07 | Kayla McBride with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:59 | +2 | Kayla McBride makes a layup. | 28-41 | |
3:41 | Alanna Smith blocks a Betnijah Laney-Hamilton jump shot from 7 feet out. | |||
3:41 | Nyara Sabally with an offensive rebound. | |||
3:36 | Leonie Fiebich misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
3:36 | Nyara Sabally with an offensive rebound. | |||
3:36 | Nyara Sabally with a turnover - Out of Bounds | |||
3:36 | Substitution: Kayla Thornton in for Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. | |||
3:23 | Shooting foul committed by Leonie Fiebich. | |||
3:23 | +1 | Courtney Williams makes free throw 1 of 2. | 29-41 | |
3:23 | +1 | Courtney Williams makes free throw 2 of 2. | 30-41 | |
3:03 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | |||
3:03 | Napheesa Collier with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:55 | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup. | 32-41 | |
2:31 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
2:31 | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:25 | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup. Kayla McBride with the assist. | 34-41 | |
2:02 | Leonie Fiebich misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
2:02 | Bridget Carleton with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:53 | Bridget Carleton misses a jump shot from 19 feet out. | |||
1:53 | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:42 | +3 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. | 34-44 | |
1:33 | Personal foul committed by Leonie Fiebich. | |||
1:33 | Substitution: Jonquel Jones in for Nyara Sabally. | |||
1:33 | Substitution: Courtney Vandersloot in for Leonie Fiebich. | |||
1:24 | Personal foul committed by Kayla Thornton. | |||
1:24 | +1 | Alanna Smith makes free throw 1 of 2. | 35-44 | |
1:24 | Substitution: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton in for Kayla Thornton. | |||
1:24 | +1 | Alanna Smith makes free throw 2 of 2. | 36-44 | |
1:10 | Courtney Vandersloot with a turnover - Traveling | |||
46.8 | Lynx with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | |||
40.4 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
40.4 | Sabrina Ionescu with an offensive rebound. | |||
29.8 | Alanna Smith blocks a Sabrina Ionescu jump shot from 9 feet out. | |||
29.8 | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
20.7 | Alanna Smith misses a layup. | |||
20.7 | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | |||
01.8 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | |||
01.8 | Liberty with an offensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | End of the 2nd Quarter |