Liberty secure 1st WNBA title with thrilling OT win over Lynx

The New York Liberty outlasted the Minnesota Lynx in overtime to win Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals 67-62 and secure the franchise's first championship.

Jonquel Jones led the Liberty in scoring with 17 points, while Breanna Stewart added 13. Stewart, a two-time champion with the Seattle Storm, iced the win with a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left in the contest.

Jones won Finals MVP after averaging 17.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists over the series.

The Lynx led by as many as 12 points, but the Liberty outscored Minnesota 40-28 in the second half and overtime.

Lynx star Napheesa Collier made a layup with 1:04 left in the fourth quarter to put Minnesota up 60-58. Stewart was fouled twice on shot attempts in the final 38 seconds, eventually making the last pair of free throws.

The Liberty's stars in Jones, Stewart, and Sabrina Ionescu did not score any field goals in overtime. Rookie guard Leonie Fiebich drained a 3-pointer on the first possession of the extra period, while Nyara Sabally made a transition layup after coming away with a steal.

Ionescu struggled in Game 5, recording five points on 1-of-19 shooting. Her lone make from the field came from deep with 3:10 left in the fourth to put the Liberty up 56-52.

Collier led the Lynx in scoring with 22 points, while Kayla McBride added 21. The rest of the rotation combined for 19.

This was the first Finals since 2019 to go the five-game distance.

One of the original teams in the WNBA, New York had lost in the Finals on five previous occasions. The Liberty stopped the Lynx from becoming the first franchise to win five championships.