New York Liberty top Minnesota Lynx to capture franchise’s first WNBA title
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(From left) Nyara Sabally, Leonie Fiebich and Sabrina Ionescu of New York Liberty celebrate after winning Game Five of the WNBA Finals on Oct 21.
PHOTO: AFP
NEW YORK – Nyara Sabally picked a good night to play one of the best games of her life.
In the first overtime winners-take-all Finals game in Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) history, Sabally had 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench – and connected on a breakaway lay-up in the extra period that proved to be crucial game-sealing points. And the hosts New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in Game 5 on Oct 20 to win their first championship in franchise history.
It was the first double-digit scoring performance of the post-season for Sabally. Her steal and fast-break bucket with 3min 14sec to play put the Liberty ahead 65-60.
The Lynx knocked down two free throws to trim the deficit to three points, but never got any closer.
Sabally blocked Napheesa Collier’s lay-up attempt with 1min 18sec to play, and Breanna Stewart later padded the Liberty lead with two free throws.
“She stayed ready,” Stewart said of Sabally.
“And when we needed her most, she was the X factor tonight. We needed a spark, and she was that.”
The Lynx had the ball with 18.4sec left in overtime with an opportunity to tie, but Bridget Carleton missed her three-point attempt.
Stewart, who never came out of the game, finished with 13 points, 15 rebounds and four assists. She hit two free throws at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime.
It is the third WNBA championship for Stewart, who won two titles with the Seattle Storm.
“I’ve been like manifesting this moment for a while. There’s no feeling like it,” Stewart, a native New Yorker, said between sips of champagne from the podium.
“To be able to bring the first-ever title to the Liberty... I was calm. I was ready. I knew the city was going to have our back. I’m so proud of this team. The city deserves it.”
The Liberty also got 17 points from Jonquel Jones, 13 points from Leonie Fiebich, and five points, eight assists and seven rebounds from Sabrina Ionescu.
Jones was named Finals Most Valuable Player after averaging 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds in the series.
The Liberty won despite Stewart and Ionescu – their two Olympians – combining for five-of-34 shooting from the floor. “That was ugly, but we found a way to win,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said.
Collier, who fouled out with 13sec left in overtime, powered Minnesota with 22 points and seven rebounds, while Kayla McBride had 21 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.
A late surge from Minnesota, capped by back-to-back baskets from Collier, gave the Lynx a two-point lead with 64sec to play.
With less than 6sec left, Stewart tied the score after being fouled and then knocked down a pair of free throws.
The Lynx challenged the foul call but to their dismay, it was not overturned. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve focused on that moment in her post-game remarks, calling the foul “marginal, at best”.
“I saw a very physical and aggressive New York team,” Reeve said.
“It’s a shame that officiating had such a hand in a series like this... We’ve got to change our challenge rules. That was not a foul.
“The headlines will be ‘Reeve cries foul’. Bring it on. Because this s**t was stolen from us.” REUTERS
