NEW YORK — The New York Liberty had Sport 1 within the palm of their palms.
Up 15 factors with 5:20 to play on their house courtroom, going through a Minnesota Lynx group that had simply gone to 5 video games in opposition to the Connecticut Solar and didn’t also have a likelihood to apply earlier than the WNBA Finals, the Liberty merely needed to put the ending touches on a cushty series-opening victory.
As a substitute, the Lynx clawed again and stole an absolute heartbreaker from New York. Courtney Williams gave Minnesota its first lead of the sport on a four-point play with 5.5 seconds to play, oddly approaching an offensive rebound on an evening when the Lynx have been in any other case destroyed on the glass.
The Liberty compelled additional time, however the momentum had switched. Minnesota took a fast four-point lead in additional time, and 2024 Defensive Participant of the 12 months Napheesa Collier closed it out with a jumper and stout protection on Breanna Stewart on the opposite finish.
It’s the primary WNBA Finals sequence that includes UConn greats main their respective groups, and the youthful Collier bought the higher of her former mentor and future Unequalled enterprise accomplice Stewart because the Lynx got here away with a stunning 95-93 win in additional time.
The sport deciding shot by Napheesa Collier is NASTY 😈
THE @minnesotalynx TAKE GAME 1 OF THE #WNBAFinals introduced by @YouTubeTV WITH A FINAL SCORE OF 95-93 pic.twitter.com/4DO4NXLoG5
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024
Minnesota turned to a small lineup down the stretch, changing heart Alanna Smith with level guard Natisha Hiedeman, and the change flustered New York. The Lynx have been already struggling to rebound, so downsizing didn’t add any extra issues on the glass, whereas the tempo juiced their offense.
The Liberty couldn’t defend 5 shooters, and Minnesota hit jumpers on six of the subsequent 9 possessions to shut the hole.
New York didn’t make the most of its measurement benefit inside, as Jonquel Jones couldn’t get sufficient touches on the ultimate possessions. As soon as the Lynx have been in putting distance, they’d the arrogance of a group that went 3-1 in opposition to the Liberty previous to the finals, together with a win on this courtroom lower than one month in the past.
Williams led the best way with 23 factors, adopted intently by Kayla McBride’s 22 and Collier’s 21. Hiedeman chipped in 10 off the bench and Minnesota totaled 9 blocks and eight steals to just do sufficient to include New York’s offense within the closing minutes. The Lynx take a 1-0 sequence lead into Sport 2 on Sunday.
WNBA Finals rating and reside updates: Minnesota Lynx come again to beat New York Liberty in OT
Liberty’s offense goes chilly throughout key stretches
Because the Liberty watch the movie, they’ll discover two stretches that considerably contributed to their eventual defeat. The group led 41-24 with 5:14 to go after Stewart hit a 12-foot jumper. Then their offense went chilly, scoring solely three factors the remainder of the half and permitting Minnesota to slice its deficit to eight.
Within the fourth quarter, the Liberty led by 15 factors with 5:20 to play however scored solely three factors for the remainder of regulation because the Lynx’s protection once more stiffened. Mixed over the ultimate five-plus minutes of regulation and the primary 3:19 of additional time, New York scored solely three factors. — Ben Pickman, WNBA workers author
Williams comes alive within the second half
Williams hit Sport 1’s greatest singular shot — a four-point play with 5.5 seconds remaining in regulation — however her affect went past simply that look. Williams scored 15 of her 24 factors within the fourth quarter and additional time, silencing Liberty followers inside Barclays Middle on a number of events. She wasn’t alone, in fact, as McBride and Collier each scored greater than 20 factors, however Williams once more made well timed photographs.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve has praised Williams’ affect all through the postseason, however no sequence will higher outline her Minnesota tenure than her closing stretch of Sport 1. — Pickman
They have been down however not out, Courtney Williams will get the and-1 after being fouled past the arc 😱#WNBAFinals introduced by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/ohHOLP9upG
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024
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