New York finally did it. After 28 years of waiting, of heartbreak, and of being the "only original franchise without a ring," the Liberty climbed the mountain. But honestly, the way they got there? It was a mess. A beautiful, gritty, nerve-wracking mess. If you just look at the box score of New York Liberty vs Minnesota Lynx, you are missing about 90% of the actual drama that unfolded on the hardwood at Barclays Center.
This series wasn't just a matchup; it was a five-game war that ended in a rock fight. It featured the worst shooting performance by two superstars in a clinching game ever, a coach who felt the title was "stolen," and a sea of seafoam green that finally got to see confetti fall in Brooklyn.
The Epic Collapse and the "Basketball Gods"
Game 1 set a tone that nobody expected. The Liberty were cruising. They were up by 15 points with less than five minutes left in regulation. Statistically, they had a 99.2% chance to win that game. Then, the Lynx decided they didn't care about math.
Courtney Williams went on a tear, including a massive four-point play that basically sucked the air out of the building. Napheesa Collier—who is arguably the most efficient, silent assassin in the league—hit a turnaround jumper in overtime to seal a 95-93 victory for Minnesota. After the game, Williams famously said the "basketball gods" were on their side.
It felt like the same old story for New York. Another year, another choke? Not this time. They punched back in Game 2, winning 80-66, proving that when Jonquel Jones is aggressive, this team is nearly impossible to stop.
That Sabrina Ionescu Shot
If there is one moment people will talk about ten years from now, it’s the end of Game 3. The series was tied 1-1. The game was tied at 77. The Lynx had the home-court advantage at Target Center, and the crowd was deafening.
📖 Related: Vince Carter Meme I Got One More: The Story Behind the Internet's Favorite Comeback
Sabrina Ionescu, who had been struggling with her shot all night, pulled up from 28 feet. It wasn't a "good" shot by any coaching manual. It was a "logo" heave.
Swish.
That 80-77 win put New York one game away. But the Lynx are coached by Cheryl Reeve, a woman who has four rings for a reason. They weren't going to just hand over the trophy. Minnesota scraped out an 82-80 win in Game 4 thanks to Bridget Carleton’s clutch free throws with two seconds left, forcing the first Game 5 in the WNBA Finals since 2019.
The Game 5 "Rock Fight"
Let’s be real: Game 5 was ugly. If you like beautiful, flowing basketball, you probably wanted to turn the TV off in the first half.
The Liberty looked terrified. They scored only 10 points in the first quarter. Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu—two of the best players on the planet—went a combined 5-for-34 from the field. That is roughly 14%. In a championship game!
👉 See also: Finding the Best Texas Longhorns iPhone Wallpaper Without the Low-Res Junk
Sabrina was 1-for-19. You read that right. One for nineteen.
But this is where the nuance of the New York Liberty vs Minnesota Lynx matchup really shows. While the stars were clanking shots off the front of the rim, Jonquel Jones became the anchor. She didn't do anything flashy, but she was consistent. She finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds, going a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. She was the reason the Liberty stayed within striking distance when they were down by 12.
The Controversy That Won't Go Away
We have to talk about the officiating. Cheryl Reeve certainly did. In her post-game press conference, she didn't hold back, saying the game was "stolen" from them.
The moment in question: Breanna Stewart driving to the hoop with about five seconds left in regulation, trailing by two. A foul was called on Minnesota’s Alanna Smith. The Lynx challenged it. On replay, it looked like very marginal contact—mostly all ball. The refs upheld the call. Stewart hit both free throws to force overtime.
In the extra period, Minnesota ran out of gas. New York’s defense, led by Leonie Fiebich and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, turned into a brick wall. The final score of 67-62 reflected a game where every single point felt like it required a pound of flesh.
✨ Don't miss: Why Isn't Mbappe Playing Today: The Real Madrid Crisis Explained
Why Jonquel Jones Was the Right MVP
There was a lot of debate online about whether Breanna Stewart deserved the Finals MVP because of her defensive stats (she was racking up blocks and steals like crazy). But the award went to Jonquel Jones.
Why? Because she was the only one who didn't blink.
Throughout the series, Jones averaged 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 56% from the field. In a series where everyone else’s shooting percentages were falling off a cliff, JJ was the constant. She became the first player in WNBA history to win MVP, Sixth Player of the Year, and Finals MVP.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you are looking back at this rivalry or preparing for future matchups between these two heavyweights, keep these factors in mind:
- Size vs. Versatility: New York’s "jumbo" lineup (Stewart at the 3, Jones and Sabally inside) eventually wore down the smaller, quicker Lynx. In a five-game series, size usually wins the war of attrition.
- The "Ellie" Factor: Don't underestimate the home-court energy at Barclays. The Liberty averaged over 17,000 fans during the Finals. That noise level matters when players are gassed in overtime.
- Roster Continuity: Minnesota’s success came from a system. New York’s came from "Superteam" talent finally gelling. The Lynx will likely look to add one more scoring threat in free agency to take the pressure off Collier.
- Watch the Shooting Splits: When Ionescu and Stewart struggle, the Liberty look for Jones. If you are scouting them, the game plan starts and ends with denying JJ the ball in the paint.
The 2024 Finals didn't just give New York a trophy; it cemented the New York Liberty vs Minnesota Lynx as the premiere rivalry in the "new era" of the WNBA. It was a series defined by grit rather than glamour.
To see the aftermath of this historic win, you can look into the details of the ticker-tape parade held in the "Canyon of Heroes" on October 24, 2024, which marked the city's first professional basketball championship since the Knicks won in 1973.
Next Steps for Deep Diving:
- Review the full Game 5 play-by-play to see the defensive rotations that held Minnesota to 2 points in the final minutes of OT.
- Analyze the shot charts for Sabrina Ionescu to understand how Minnesota's perimeter defense forced her into the worst shooting night of her career.
- Compare the 2024 Finals viewership numbers to previous years to see the "Caitlin Clark effect" ripple through the championship ratings.