Lynx force Game 5 of WNBA Finals on Carleton's free throws to beat Liberty 82-80
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) With their season on the line, the Minnesota Lynx did just enough to stave off elimination and force a decisive Game 5 of the WNBA Finals.
Bridget Carleton made two free throws with 2 seconds left, and the Lynx beat the New York Liberty 82-80 on Friday night. The teams will meet Sunday night in New York in the first Game 5 of the Finals since 2019, when Washington topped Connecticut.
“Last 40 minutes of the season, it could be anywhere, really, it doesn't matter. We’re going to be out there together going to war and I’m pumped,” said Kayla McBride, who led the Lynx with 19 points.
Courtney Williams added 15 points for Minnesota, which forced Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu into poor shooting nights. Ionescu's heave at the buzzer didn't hit the rim.
“I think we’re excited,” Napheesa Collier said. “It’s a Game 5 of the Finals. We have to go out and execute.”
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve is no stranger to winner-take-all games. She coached Minnesota in three straight ones from 2015-17, winning two.
“I don’t think about the other ones,” Reeve said. “I feel very blessed in my career to have a chance to been a part of so many. I haven’t won them all. ... What I’m thrilled about is that this group gets to experience the Game 5.”
Unlike the first three games of the series, when one of the teams built a double-digit lead, this one was tight throughout. There were 14 lead changes and 13 ties, and neither team led by more than six.
“It’s a close-out game. Their backs are against the wall and we are trying to win,” said Jonquel Jones, who led New York with 21 points. “It was going to be that type of game tonight where we are both trying to claw and both teams are trying to figure out whatever to do to get over the hump.”
With the game tied at 80-all with 18 seconds left, Williams dribbled to run the clock down and missed a jumper with a few seconds left. Carleton got the rebound in the lane and was fouled by Ionescu.
“She got the shot off and missed it perfectly for me,” Carleton said. “We talked about it after. She wanted to get it high and off the rim.”
The 27-year-old Canadian calmly made both free throws, and Ionescu was unable to duplicate her heroics in Game 3, when she made a 28-footer with 1 second left to give the Liberty a 2-1 series lead.
“I was pretty confident. I’m a confident free-throw shooter,” Carleton said.
Leonie Fiebich added 19 for New York. Stewart, who scored 30 points in Game 3, had 11 points on 5-of-20 shooting, and Ionescu was 5 of 16 from the floor and scored 10.
Minnesota stands one victory away from a record fifth WNBA title, which would break a tie with the Houston Comets and Seattle Storm. The Liberty are looking for their first title and have lost in the Finals five times. The team was one of the original eight franchises when the league began in 1997 and is the only one left of that group not to have won it all.
New York lost to Las Vegas in last season's Finals. Friday night marked the one-year anniversary of the Game 4 clincher last season for the Aces.
The Lynx reached the Finals for the first time since 2017, when they won the last of four championships in seven years.
Minnesota built a 77-72 lead with 3:14 left on Carleton's 3-pointer before New York scored eight of the next 11 points, including a three-point play by Jones with 1:10 left that tied it at 80.
Both teams had chances before Carleton’s free throws. McBride missed a layup with 56 seconds left, but the Lynx forced a shot-clock violation on the other end when Stewart’s shot in the lane missed with 18 seconds left.
“We wanted to get it done tonight. But like (coach) Sandy (Brondello) said, our fans are like no other, and to be able to go into our environment on Sunday, know they have our backs," Stewart said. “So whenever there are tough situations, whenever we’re fighting through all of this adversity, we know we have the crowd behind us. That’s just going to continue to motivate us. Yeah, can’t wait for Sunday.”
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 1st Quarter | |||
10:00 | Jump Ball: Jonquel Jones vs. Napheesa Collier. | |||
9:41 | Breanna Stewart misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
9:41 | Napheesa Collier with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:24 | Kayla McBride misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
9:24 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:17 | Leonie Fiebich misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
9:17 | Napheesa Collier with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:08 | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a jump shot from 20 feet out. | 0-2 | |
8:45 | Breanna Stewart misses a jump shot from 15 feet out. | |||
8:45 | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:34 | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup from 4 feet out. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 0-4 | |
8:19 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
8:05 | Alanna Smith misses a layup. | |||
8:05 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:55 | +3 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | 3-4 | |
7:41 | +2 | Alanna Smith makes a layup. Napheesa Collier with the assist. | 3-6 | |
7:29 | +2 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a layup. | 5-6 | |
7:12 | Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 19 feet out. | |||
7:12 | Breanna Stewart with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:03 | Personal foul committed by Alanna Smith. | |||
6:56 | Breanna Stewart misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
6:56 | Courtney Williams with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:44 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton steals the ball from Courtney Williams. | |||
6:33 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | |||
6:33 | Napheesa Collier with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:24 | Napheesa Collier misses a jump shot from 9 feet out. | |||
6:24 | Breanna Stewart with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:15 | Alanna Smith steals the ball from Sabrina Ionescu. | |||
6:06 | +3 | Kayla McBride makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Napheesa Collier with the assist. | 5-9 | |
5:50 | +3 | Jonquel Jones makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Breanna Stewart with the assist. | 8-9 | |
5:33 | Alanna Smith misses a layup. | |||
5:33 | Leonie Fiebich with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:26 | Shooting foul committed by Courtney Williams. | |||
5:26 | +1 | Jonquel Jones makes free throw 1 of 2. | 9-9 | |
5:26 | Substitution: Kayla Thornton in for Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. | |||
5:26 | +1 | Jonquel Jones makes free throw 2 of 2. | 10-9 | |
5:06 | +3 | Napheesa Collier makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 10-12 | |
4:55 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a jump shot from 7 feet out. | |||
4:55 | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:40 | Alanna Smith misses a layup. | |||
4:40 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:27 | +3 | Kayla Thornton makes a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. Jonquel Jones with the assist. | 13-12 | |
4:15 | Napheesa Collier with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
4:15 | Official TV timeout. | |||
4:15 | Substitution: Natisha Hiedeman in for Courtney Williams. | |||
4:15 | Substitution: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton in for Leonie Fiebich. | |||
4:00 | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a layup. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 15-12 | |
3:46 | Napheesa Collier misses a jump shot from 20 feet out. | |||
3:46 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:39 | Napheesa Collier steals the ball from Sabrina Ionescu. | |||
3:28 | Kayla McBride with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
3:17 | Breanna Stewart with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
2:57 | +3 | Kayla McBride makes a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. Napheesa Collier with the assist. | 15-15 | |
2:38 | +2 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a layup. | 17-15 | |
2:24 | Bridget Carleton misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
2:24 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:14 | Substitution: Cecilia Zandalasini in for Bridget Carleton. | |||
2:14 | Substitution: Dorka Juhasz in for Alanna Smith. | |||
2:14 | Substitution: Nyara Sabally in for Jonquel Jones. | |||
2:03 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
2:03 | Liberty with an offensive rebound. | |||
2:01 | Breanna Stewart misses a layup. | |||
2:01 | Breanna Stewart with an offensive rebound. | |||
1:43 | Breanna Stewart misses a jump shot from 22 feet out. | |||
1:43 | Lynx with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:43 | Substitution: Courtney Vandersloot in for Sabrina Ionescu. | |||
1:36 | +2 | Kayla McBride makes a jump shot from 8 feet out. Natisha Hiedeman with the assist. | 17-17 | |
1:36 | Shooting foul committed by Courtney Vandersloot. | |||
1:36 | +1 | Kayla McBride makes free throw 1 of 1. | 17-18 | |
1:18 | Breanna Stewart misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
1:18 | Nyara Sabally with an offensive rebound. | |||
1:12 | +2 | Nyara Sabally makes a layup. | 19-18 | |
1:01 | +3 | Napheesa Collier makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Dorka Juhasz with the assist. | 19-21 | |
44.2 | +2 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a jump shot from 19 feet out. | 21-21 | |
35.2 | Shooting foul committed by Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. | |||
35.2 | Substitution: Leonie Fiebich in for Kayla Thornton. | |||
35.2 | Kayla McBride misses free throw 1 of 3. | |||
35.2 | Lynx with an offensive rebound. | |||
35.2 | +1 | Kayla McBride makes free throw 2 of 3. | 21-22 | |
35.2 | +1 | Kayla McBride makes free throw 3 of 3. | 21-23 | |
23.9 | +2 | Leonie Fiebich makes a jump shot from 12 feet out. | 23-23 | |
10.2 | Offensive foul committed by Kayla McBride. | |||
10.2 | Kayla McBride with a turnover | |||
10.2 | Substitution: Bridget Carleton in for Kayla McBride. | |||
01.0 | Breanna Stewart misses a jump shot from 13 feet out. | |||
01.0 | Courtney Vandersloot with an offensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | End of the 1st Quarter | |||
35.2 | Shooting foul committed by Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 2nd Quarter | |||
9:44 | Napheesa Collier misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
9:44 | Leonie Fiebich with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:28 | Personal foul committed by Cecilia Zandalasini. | |||
9:28 | Substitution: Alanna Smith in for Dorka Juhasz. | |||
9:16 | Napheesa Collier steals the ball from Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. | |||
9:04 | Breanna Stewart steals the ball from Cecilia Zandalasini. | |||
8:58 | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a layup. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 25-23 | |
8:46 | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a jump shot from 19 feet out. | 25-25 | |
8:33 | +3 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. Jonquel Jones with the assist. | 28-25 | |
8:11 | Shooting foul committed by Breanna Stewart. | |||
8:11 | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 2. | 28-26 | |
8:11 | Substitution: Kayla McBride in for Cecilia Zandalasini. | |||
8:11 | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 2 of 2. | 28-27 | |
8:00 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a jump shot from 5 feet out. | |||
8:00 | Breanna Stewart with an offensive rebound. | |||
7:51 | Alanna Smith blocks a Breanna Stewart jump shot from 4 feet out. | |||
7:51 | Bridget Carleton with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:46 | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a jump shot from 20 feet out. | 28-29 | |
7:36 | +3 | Leonie Fiebich makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with the assist. | 31-29 | |
7:26 | Breanna Stewart steals the ball from Napheesa Collier. | |||
7:21 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a layup. | 33-29 | |
6:59 | +3 | Bridget Carleton makes a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. Kayla McBride with the assist. | 33-32 | |
6:43 | +2 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a layup. | 35-32 | |
6:30 | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a layup. | 35-34 | |
6:21 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
6:21 | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:06 | Breanna Stewart steals the ball from Kayla McBride. | |||
5:56 | +2 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a layup. | 37-34 | |
5:52 | Lynx take a full timeout. | |||
5:52 | Substitution: Natisha Hiedeman in for Courtney Williams. | |||
5:52 | Substitution: Nyara Sabally in for Breanna Stewart. | |||
5:51 | Personal foul committed by Jonquel Jones. | |||
5:42 | Natisha Hiedeman misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
5:42 | Nyara Sabally with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:14 | +2 | Leonie Fiebich makes a jump shot from 23 feet out. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with the assist. | 39-34 | |
4:51 | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. Kayla McBride with the assist. | 39-36 | |
4:38 | Substitution: Courtney Williams in for Bridget Carleton. | |||
4:38 | Substitution: Cecilia Zandalasini in for Natisha Hiedeman. | |||
4:32 | Napheesa Collier steals the ball from Leonie Fiebich. | |||
4:16 | Courtney Williams misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
4:16 | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:07 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
4:07 | Nyara Sabally with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:03 | Nyara Sabally misses a layup. | |||
4:03 | Lynx with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:03 | Substitution: Kayla Thornton in for Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. | |||
3:51 | Cecilia Zandalasini misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
3:51 | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:40 | Courtney Williams steals the ball from Sabrina Ionescu. | |||
3:34 | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a jump shot from 10 feet out. | 39-38 | |
3:34 | Liberty take a full timeout. | |||
3:34 | Substitution: Breanna Stewart in for Jonquel Jones. | |||
3:23 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a layup. Leonie Fiebich with the assist. | 41-38 | |
3:05 | Courtney Williams misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
3:05 | Kayla Thornton with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:53 | Breanna Stewart misses a jump shot from 12 feet out. | |||
2:53 | Courtney Williams with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:35 | Napheesa Collier misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | |||
2:35 | Kayla Thornton with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:18 | Leonie Fiebich misses a layup. | |||
2:18 | Cecilia Zandalasini with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:10 | Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 20 feet out. | |||
2:10 | Alanna Smith with an offensive rebound. | |||
2:00 | +2 | Cecilia Zandalasini makes a jump shot from 22 feet out. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 41-40 | |
1:38 | Shooting foul committed by Napheesa Collier. | |||
1:38 | +1 | Nyara Sabally makes free throw 1 of 2. | 42-40 | |
1:38 | Substitution: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton in for Kayla Thornton. | |||
1:38 | +1 | Nyara Sabally makes free throw 2 of 2. | 43-40 | |
1:20 | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a jump shot from 23 feet out. | 43-42 | |
1:20 | Shooting foul committed by Breanna Stewart. | |||
1:20 | Substitution: Jonquel Jones in for Nyara Sabally. | |||
1:20 | +1 | Courtney Williams makes free throw 1 of 1. | 43-43 | |
1:08 | Sabrina Ionescu misses a layup. | |||
1:08 | Cecilia Zandalasini with a defensive rebound. | |||
56.6 | +2 | Kayla McBride makes a layup. | 43-45 | |
56.6 | Shooting foul committed by Breanna Stewart. | |||
56.6 | Substitution: Nyara Sabally in for Breanna Stewart. | |||
56.6 | +1 | Kayla McBride makes free throw 1 of 1. | 43-46 | |
44.1 | +2 | Leonie Fiebich makes a layup. Sabrina Ionescu with the assist. | 45-46 | |
29.8 | Cecilia Zandalasini misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
29.8 | Nyara Sabally with a defensive rebound. | |||
06.6 | Leonie Fiebich misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
06.6 |