The franchise that won the first game in WNBA history finally has won the last game of the season. More than 27 years after playing for league's inaugural championship and following several near misses, the New York Liberty became WNBA champions with a 67-62 overtime victory Sunday over the Minnesota Lynx. Breanna Stewart (6'4''-F-1994, college: UConn) sealed the win with two free throws with 10.1 seconds left in the extra period. After Leonie Fiebich stole a pass, the Liberty dribbled out the clock on a victory that was as hard-fought and dramatic as any in a Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. The Liberty prevailed 3-2 in a series marked by huge shots and big momentum shifts in the first three games. Little separated the teams in Game 4, which the Lynx won on two free throws with two seconds left. In Game 5, before a packed house at Barclays Center, the Liberty battled back from a seven-point halftime deficit to take a 47-44 lead heading into the fourth quarter. So many years of waiting would come down to 10 minutes. Or so it appeared. Instead, these teams which faced off nine times during the season, including the Commissioner's Cup final that the Lynx claimed in June worked into overtime. With 6.3 seconds left in regulation, the Liberty had the ball, trailing 60-58. Stewart was fouled by Alanna Smith (6'4''-F-1996, college: Stanford), a call the Lynx challenged. After the challenge was ruled unsuccessful, Stewart hit both free throws to tie the game at 60-60. Kayla McBride (5'11''-PG-1992, college: Notre Dame) missed a 3-pointer for Minnesota, and the game went to overtime. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve spent a considerable part of her news conference criticizing the officiating in Game 5 and the entire series, saying, "This s- was stolen from us." In the extra period, the Liberty's points came from Fiebich, Nyara Sabally (6'5''-C-2000, college: Oregon) and Stewart. Sabally had her biggest game yet as a Liberty player, with 13 points and seven rebounds. Fiebich, Sabally's German national team teammate in the Olympics, also had 13 points and seven rebounds. The Liberty won despite shooting just 30.6% from the field. Sabrina Ionescu made just 1 of 19 shots from the field, finishing with five points. Despite those struggles, she had eight assists and seven rebounds. Liberty forward Jonquel Jones (6'6''-C-1994, college: GWU) was named Finals MVP after leading New York with 17 points in Game 5. Jones, who was +1000 to win MVP at the start of the series, tied Diana Taurasi for the third-most career points in the Finals with 320. She was playing in her fourth career Finals, after previously losing with the Connecticut Sun in 2019 and 2022 and with the Liberty last year. "I could never dream of this," said Jones. "You know how many times I've been denied. It was delayed. I am so happy to do it here." The title is extra special to Stewart, the team's lone native New Yorker who recalls attending Liberty games as a kid. A two-time champion while with the Seattle Storm, she joined the Liberty before the 2023 season as the biggest free agent signing in WNBA history. "I've been manifesting this moment for a while. There's no feeling like it," Stewart said after the game. "Credit to Minnesota they gave us a tough series. The fans have been amazing everywhere we've gone. To bring a championship to New York, first ever in franchise history, it's an incredible feeling. I can't wait to continue to celebrate with the city. It's going to be bonkers." The Liberty's ticker tape parade is scheduled for Monday. The Liberty gave the Big Apple its first major professional basketball championship since 1973. That's when the New York Knicks won the NBA title, which came 16 years before the oldest player on the Liberty's roster, 35-year-old guard Courtney Vandersloot, was born. (The New York/New Jersey Nets won the ABA title in 1976, but that league was down to seven teams then and would merge with the NBA for 1976-77). A city that loves hoops and winners gets to combine both again. After five previous tries to win the title starting in 1997, the WNBA's inaugural year the Liberty now have a crown to go with their iconic torch logo. Disappointed after losing 3-1 to the Las Vegas Aces in last year's Finals, Stewart didn't have her best game offensively in Game 5, as she was 4-of-15 from the field and 5-of-8 from the foul line for 13 points. But she was strong on defense and had 15 rebounds. Stewart, Jones and Ionescu were the Liberty's top three scorers in the regular season and the playoffs. Ionescu, the No. 1 draft pick in 2020, made a 28-foot 3-pointer with one second left in Game 3 that now surpasses Teresa Weatherspoon's half-court heave that won Game 2 of the 1999 Finals as the biggest shot in Liberty history. The day after Weatherspoon's shot, the Liberty lost Game 3 and the title to the Houston Comets in what was then a best-of-three series. Ionescu's shot Wednesday sealed an 80-77 come-from-behind victory and gave the Liberty two chances at clinching the title. They fell short on the first attempt Friday but secured their championship Sunday. After watching the Aces celebrate the title on New York's court last year, the Liberty all season talked about the scars they had from that but also the lessons they learned. The Liberty were the No. 1 seed at a league-best 32-8, but in the playoffs had to get past the Atlanta Dream, last year's nemesis Las Vegas and Minnesota. And the Liberty had to overcome a gut-punch loss in Game 1 of the Finals in Brooklyn, where they led by as much as 18 points and by 15 with just over five minutes left before falling 95-93 in overtime. The Liberty knew they couldn't afford to wallow in that missed chance; they won Game 2 at home 80-66. Game 3 and its fantastic finish will go down as an epic tale in Liberty lore, which has included many highs that were overshadowed by disappointments. Game 4's loss added more drama to what many might consider the most competitive WNBA Finals ever. And Game 5 was a catharsis for the Liberty and their longtime fans. The franchise that won the first WNBA game June 21, 1997, at Los Angeles has reached its pinnacle. Just four years ago, Ionescu was the No. 1 pick but missed most of 2020 after suffering an ankle injury in the third game of her rookie year. The Liberty finished 2-20 in the pandemic-shortened season. The Liberty went 12-20 and returned to the playoffs in 2021. Sandy Brondello took over as coach in 2022, and New York finished 16-20. The additions of Stewart, Jones and Vandersloot in 2023 were huge moves that helped produce back-to-back 32-8 seasons and Finals appearances. "To just be able to see what we've accomplished in such a short amount of time is crazy to think of," said Ionescu, the only player on the 2020 roster who is still with the Liberty. Stewart recalled having a moment of second-guessing before announcing her free agency decision in 2023. "I thought, 'Am I doing the right thing? I'm leaving my safe space of Seattle,'" she said. "But it's been incredible. I'm back where I'm rooted. It feels like home." And now it's a place to hang a championship banner.
Courtesy of: espn.com

Finals MVP: Jonquel Jones (6'6''-C-1994) of New York L.
Most Valuable Player: A'Ja Wilson (6'4''-C-1996) of LV Aces
Most Improved Player: DiJonai Carrington (5'11''-G-1998) of Connecticut S.
Sixth Player of the Year: Tiffany Hayes (5'10''-G-1989) of LV Aces
Rookie of the Year: Caitlin Clark (6'0''-PG-2002) of Indiana F.
Defensive Player of the Year: Napheesa Collier (6'1''-F-1996) of Minnesota L.
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: Dearica Hamby (6'3''-F-1993) of LA Sparks
Coach of the Year: Cheryl Reeve of Minnesota L.

WNBA First Team 2024

Collier

Wilson

Stewart

Clark

Thomas

First Team
Napheesa Collier (6'1''-F-1996) of Minnesota L.
A'Ja Wilson (6'4''-C-1996) of LV Aces
Breanna Stewart (6'4''-F-1994) of New York L.
Caitlin Clark (6'0''-PG-2002) of Indiana F.
Alyssa Thomas (6'2''-F-1992) of Connecticut S.

WNBA Second Team 2024

Ionescu

Copper

Ogwumike

Ogunbowale

Jones

Second Team
Sabrina Ionescu (5'11''-PG-1997) of New York L.
Kahleah Copper (6'1''-G/F-1994) of Phoenix M.
Nneka Ogwumike (6'2''-F-1990) of Seattle S.
Arike Ogunbowale (5'8''-PG-1997) of Dallas W.
Jonquel Jones (6'6''-C-1994) of New York L.

WNBA All-Defensive First Team 2024

Collier

Wilson

Magbegor

Carrington

Stewart

All-Defensive First Team
Napheesa Collier (6'1''-F-1996) of Minnesota L.
A'Ja Wilson (6'4''-C-1996) of LV Aces
Eziyoda Magbegor (6'4''-C-1999) of Seattle S.
DiJonai Carrington (5'11''-G-1998) of Connecticut S.
Breanna Stewart (6'4''-F-1994) of New York L.

WNBA All-Defensive Second Team 2024

Thomas

Smith

Ogwumike

Jones

Cloud

All-Defensive Second Team
Alyssa Thomas (6'2''-F-1992) of Connecticut S.
Alanna Smith (6'4''-F-1996) of Minnesota L.
Nneka Ogwumike (6'2''-F-1990) of Seattle S.
Jonquel Jones (6'6''-C-1994) of New York L.
Natasha Cloud (5'10''-PG-1992) of Phoenix M.

WNBA All-Rookie Team 2024

Clark

Jackson

Reese

Cardoso

Fiebich

All-Rookie Team
Caitlin Clark (6'0''-PG-2002) of Indiana F.
Rickea Jackson (6'2''-F-2001) of LA Sparks
Angel Reese (6'3''-F-2002) of Chicago S.
Kamilla Cardoso (201-C-2001) of Shanghai
Leonie Fiebich (6'4''-F-2000) of New York L.

The Minnesota Lynx are ready for a dialogue change in the WNBA. "You got to talk about us now, you've got no choice," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said after her team beat the New York Liberty 94-89 to win the Commissioner's Cup Trophy. "We don't really care what you think, except for right now, when we get to say to you, 'You've got to talk about us.' "We just beat a superteam. You know how hard that is to do? Because you guys love your superteams. That's all you want to talk about. But we just beat a superteam. Let's talk about it." Last season, the WNBA narrative was dominated by discussion of so-called superteams Las Vegas and New York. They met for the 2023 Commissioner's Cup, won by the Liberty, and then in the WNBA Finals, won by the Aces. The Lynx whose dynasty years ran from 2011 to 2017, when they won four titles and went to two other Finals are ready to be back in the conversation about WNBA championships. The way they played Tuesday proved that, as has their 13-3 start this season. The Commissioner's Cup, an in-season competition started in 2021, has grown in prestige among the players, who compete for a $500,000 prize pool. The Cup format was changed this year with each team playing five regular-season games, rather than the previous 10, to determine their place in the Cup standings. Another change was having all the Cup games in a two-week span and then the final, all in June. "I like the format this year. I like that it's so condensed," said Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (6'1''-F-1996, college: UConn), who was the game's MVP with 21 points and 6 rebounds. "It's easier to follow for the fans, and for us [players]. "And it means a lot. We're competitors, and you want to win every game you're in. The money makes it really fun as well. It's a great team we just beat, it's a game we won and we won some money. So it's like a trifecta." That was an appropriate term, considering the game was at UBS Arena next to horse racing's Belmont Park. The Liberty's better finish in Cup play gave them hosting rights, but their home, Barclays Center in Brooklyn, was unavailable Tuesday as it was being prepared for Wednesday's NBA draft. Still, the Liberty crowd showed up loud and especially cheered on Courtney Vandersloot (5'8''-PG-1989, college: Gonzaga), who returned after missing eight games because of her mother's death from cancer, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, back after missing three games with a knee injury. They helped the Liberty get a 50-47 halftime lead. But Minnesota took over in the third quarter, outscoring New York 19-10, and then held off the Liberty in the final quarter. Collier is the Lynx's star, but they also got big games from Bridget Carleton (6'1''-F-1997, college: Iowa St.) (23 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists) and Cecilia Zandalasini (6'2''-F-1996) (15 points off the bench). The two combined to shoot 13-of-16 from the field. Breanna Stewart (6'4''-F-1994, college: UConn) (24 points, 11 rebounds) and Sabrina Ionescu (5'11''-PG, college: Oregon) (23 points, 10 rebounds) led New York. Like Collier, they are on the U.S. 5-on-5 Olympic team coached by Reeve. The Liberty's issue Tuesday, more than anything, was their 21 turnovers. That and the resilience of the Lynx. Reeve isn't shy about saying her team, which rose to No. 1 Monday in the ESPN Power Rankings, has been underestimated. And even though Tuesday's game doesn't count in the regular-season standings, the message the Lynx sent was clear. "We have a lot of offensive threats, but on defense, we're so solid," Collier said. "That's why it's so hard to play against us. Our aggressiveness, our willingness to sell out on anything [because] we have each other's backs. "This is the most talented, most fun team I've been on since I've been here. We want to build on this, we don't want to peak here. We want to achieve bigger things than this at the end of the season."

Courtesy of: espn.com

Minneapolis, MN (July 4, 2024)- Tonight, the Connecticut Sun (16-4) defeated the Minnesota Lynx (14-6), 78-74. The Sun trailed by as many as 10 in the second half but were able to battle back and hang onto the lead late in the contest. Connecticut moves to 2-0 against Minnesota in 2024, with their final contest coming on September 17. The Sun also extend their win streak at the Target Center to five in a row, dating back to the 2021 season.

Alyssa Thomas (6'2''-F-1992, college: Maryland) had a career-night, tallying her 10th regular season triple-double (league-leading) with 13 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high tying 14 assists. She scored 11 of her 13 points in the third quarter and played all 40 minutes in tonight’s win for the Sun. Thomas has tallied four of her 10 regular season triple-doubles against Minnesota, including her first career triple-double back in July 2022.

DeWanna Bonner (6'4''-G-1987, college: Auburn) led Connecticut in scoring, notching a season-high tying 24 points on 10 of 16 shooting. She also added nine rebounds and one assist in the win. Dijonai Carrington (5'11''-G, college: Baylor) also had a productive night offensively, scoring 17 points, along with six rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block. Veronica Burton (5'9''-G-2000, college: Northwestern) added nine points and a career-high four steals in her first start for the Sun, filling in for Tyasha Harris (5'10''-PG, college: S.Carolina) who was out with an illness.

Minnesota saw a balance scoring attack in the effort with Alanna Smith leading the team with 14 points. Kayla McBride (5'11''-PG-1992, college: Notre Dame) added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Bridget Carlton and Courtney Williams (5'8''-PG-1994, college: S.Florida) each added 12 points on the night. The Sun delivered the Lynx their third straight loss and their second loss at home.

Connecticut shot 45.5% (30-66) while Minnesota was 45.2% (28-62) on the night. Minnesota’s 13 three-point field goals mark the most Connecticut has given up this season.

Game Runs:
1Q: A 10-2 start from the Sun forced the Lynx into a timeout with 5:46 to play in the first quarter. Connecticut forced Minnesota into four turnovers in the early minutes, resulting in six of their first ten points. The Lynx outscored the Sun, 15-10, the rest of the way, including eight answered, to cut the lead to three, 20-17. DeWanna Bonner led Connecticut with 11 points, while Alyssa Thomas dished out five assists through ten minutes of action.

2Q: Minnesota continued their push to begin the second, taking a 22-21 lead over Connecticut with 7:40 to play in the half. The Sun responded on an 8-0 run of their own to take back the lead, 29-22, with 5:43 left in the second. The Lynx answered once again, outscoring the Sun, 18-7, the rest of the half to take a 40-36 lead over the Sun into the locker room. Bonner led Connecticut with 15 points, three rebounds and one assist, while Thomas notched nine assists in the first half.

3Q: The Lynx began the second half on an 8-2 to run to take their first double-digit lead over the Sun, 48-38, with 8:09 to play in the third. Sun rattled off ten unanswered to tie the game 48-48 with 5:58 to go in the quarter. Connecticut continued to click offensively, outscoring the Lynx, 12-9, the rest of the quarter to take a six-point edge into the fourth, 64-58. Thomas notched 11 points to lead the Sun in scoring in the ten minutes out of the break. The Sun’s 28 third-quarter points marked a new season-high for third-quarter points.

4Q: Connecticut gave up a 6-3 Minnesota run to begin the fourth, taking a 67-64 lead into the first media timeout of the quarter. The Sun continued their push, extending their lead to ten, 74-64, with 2:51 to play in the contest. Minnesota responded with six unanswered cutting the lead to six, 74-70, with 49.0 seconds in the quarter. Two free-throws from Dijonai Carrington extended the Sun’s lead to six, 76-70, but a three-pointer by Minnesota’s Kayla McBride cut the lead back to three, 76-73, with 8.2 seconds on the clock. Carrington responded with a quick lay-in with 6.5 second left and a last-second jumper by McBride was no good, letting the Sun come away with a 78-73 victory.

Notes:
The Sun outrebounded the Lynx, 35-28. Both teams dished out 23 assists.
Connecticut outscored Minnesota in the paint (30-20), but Minnesota had the edge in second chance points (13-12), fast break points (10-9) and bench points (13-8).
DeWanna Bonner moved into 6th all-time in games played in WNBA history, tying Katie Smith (482).
Veronica Burton made her first start this season for the Sun in tonight’s game. She now has started in 20 games in her career, with this evening being her first start since September 10, 2023 with Dallas.
DeWanna Bonner matched her season-high with 15 first-half points. Alyssa Thomas recorded nine first-half assists, one-shy of her career-high and franchise record for assists in a single half.
The Lynx scored 26 points off the Sun’s 18 turnovers, including 16 points off of their nine first-half turnovers.
Tonight, marks Alyssa Thomas’ 4th game of 2024 with 10+ assists and 21st 10+ assist game of her career. The Sun are 4-0 this season when Thomas dishes 10+ assists.
Minnesota’s all-star forward Napheesa Collier exited the game with a left foot injury with 2:33 to play in the third quarter, finishing the game with just nine points, 11 points under her season average entering the game.

Courtesy of Connecticut Sun