WNBA Finals score and live updates: Minnesota Lynx come back to beat New York Liberty in OT
NEW YORK — The New York Liberty had Game 1 in the palm of their hands.
Up 15 points with 5:20 to play on their home court, facing a Minnesota Lynx team that had just gone to five games against the Connecticut Sun and didn’t even have a chance to practice before the WNBA Finals, the Liberty simply had to put the finishing touches on a comfortable series-opening victory.
Instead, the Lynx clawed back and stole an absolute heartbreaker from New York. Courtney Williams gave Minnesota its first lead of the game on a four-point play with 5.5 seconds to play, oddly coming on an offensive rebound on a night when the Lynx were otherwise destroyed on the glass.
The Liberty forced overtime, but the momentum had switched. Minnesota took a quick four-point lead in overtime, and 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier closed it out with a jumper and stout defense on Breanna Stewart on the other end.
It’s the first WNBA Finals series featuring UConn greats leading their respective teams, and the younger Collier got the better of her former mentor and future Unrivaled business partner Stewart as the Lynx came away with a shocking 95-93 win in overtime.
The game deciding shot by Napheesa Collier is NASTY 😈
THE @minnesotalynx TAKE GAME 1 OF THE #WNBAFinals presented 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, replacing center Alanna Smith with point guard Natisha Hiedeman, and the switch flustered New York. The Lynx were already struggling to rebound, so downsizing didn’t add any additional complications on the glass, while the pace juiced their offense.
The Liberty couldn’t defend five shooters, and Minnesota hit jumpers on six of the next nine possessions to close the gap.
New York didn’t utilize its size advantage inside, as Jonquel Jones couldn’t get enough touches on the final possessions. Once the Lynx were in striking distance, they had the confidence of a team that went 3-1 against the Liberty prior to the finals, including a win on this court less than one month ago.
Williams led the way with 23 points, followed closely by Kayla McBride’s 22 and Collier’s 21. Hiedeman chipped in ten off the bench, and Minnesota totaled nine blocks and eight steals to do just enough to contain New York’s offense in the closing minutes. The Lynx take a 1-0 series lead into Game 2 on Sunday.
(Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)
