The New York Liberty rallied from a 12-point deficit to secure a 67-62 overtime win over the Minnesota Lynx to claim their first WNBA title at the Barclays Center on Sunday.
The Liberty won the best-of-5-series 3-2 in the first WNBA Finals since 2019 to go to a fifth game as they finally got their hands on the title having previously lost five Finals.
YOUR 2024 WNBA CHAMPIONS 🗽
The @nyliberty secure their first title in franchise history!#WelcometotheW | WNBA Finals @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/4GSpHZ4oW0
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 21, 2024
Jonquel Jones, 30, led New York with 17 points to win the much-coveted Finals MVP trophy after averaging 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 56 percent from the field.
“I could never dream of this,” Jones said after receiving the award. “It’s biggest moment and you have to lock in if you want to be a champion and it was all about this and us winning together because we really love each other.”
2024 WNBA Champion x Finals MVP, Jonquel Jones 🏆@jus242 | @nyliberty | #WNBAChamps pic.twitter.com/9i54UhllER
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 21, 2024
Olympic gold medallists Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu both struggled in the Finals as they both finished with 13 and five points, respectively.
However, Stewart, who became a WNBA champion for the third time in her career, converted two free throws to level the game with 5.2 seconds left at the end of regulation time.
“This is something special right here and I’m trying not to cry,” said Stewart, who also finished with 15 rebounds and four assists.
“We had some ups and downs. This series was tough but we fought through because we wanted to bring it home to this city and this crowd.”
Leonie Fiebich, who finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, hit a three-pointer to put the Liberty in front in overtime before Nyara Sabally, who came up big with 13 points and seven rebounds, extended their lead, as two more free throws from Stewart sealed the victory with 10 seconds left.
Meanwhile, Napheesa Collier led all scorers with 22 points and Kayla McBride added 21 for the for the Lynx, but they just fell short in their attempt to win a record fifth title.
