Finally and finally is the perfect verb to end it all, the New York Liberty are champions. The Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 92-88 in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals to capture the first title in franchise history, thus ending the 28-year championship drought.
It marked a dramatic win in front of a sold-out Barclays Center crowd for the original New York franchise of the league, which has been near misses and rebuilding for nearly years. The team’s perseverance finally paid off in a nail-biting final that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the last buzzer sounded.
A tough contest ended with the Liberty’s LED lift from MVP Breanna Stewart, who went into clutch mode with 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks. The game headed to overtime as the Lynx came back in the late parts of the fourth quarter to offer a fierce challenge for the Liberty. Highly known for her poise in high-pressure situations, Stewart came through with plays down the stretch to give Liberty the win and make her the second Finals MVP in her career.
Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu also played a crucial role, nailing some big shots and making nine assists to direct the ball. Ionescu’s combination with Stewart was so pivotal in the entire season, and their chemistry thus showed through all in the Finals. Laney added 18 points, crucial scoring in key moments.
The Lynx were fighting bravely under the helm of veteran Sylvia Fowles, who played her last WNBA game tonight. She was giving it all she had, fighting for that one last title before retirement, with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Kayla McBride added 22 points to give Minnesota just enough to send the game into the extra period, but not enough to overcome New York’s well-rounded attack.
The championship wins are a long overdue achievement for New York, this city that had been through thick and thin in showing its support for the team since 1997. Liberty coach Sandy Brondello praises her team saying that they have shown struggle after struggle while indicating that, “This team fought every step of the way, and to bring this championship home to New York is a dream come true.”
With the win, Liberty will have secured their place in WNBA history as it breaks a rather long title drought, giving the city of New York something to celebrate.
