NY Liberty 2024 WNBA Champions
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Shara Talia Taylor
The New York Liberty won their first title in franchise history to become the 2024 WNBA Champions after they defeated the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in an overtime Game 5 nail biter Sunday evening at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
“I’ve been manifesting this moment for a while and there’s no feeling like it, this game, and credit to Minnesota because they gave us a tough series,” said Breanna Stewart.
Stewart led the team in rebounds (15) and blocks (three), Sabrina Ionescu had a game-high eight assists and Jonquel Jones, the WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player led the Liberty with 17 points. The Liberty came from behind at halftime to tie the score and push ahead of the Lynx in the third quarter with the clutch performances of Nyara Sabally, Leonie Fiebich and Jones, who energized the team to finish the game.
“We wanted to win,” said Coach Sandy Brondello about putting the team together. “New York has never won before. Now we’re gonna go down in the history books as the first ever and that makes me very proud.”
The team shared responsibilities in the series. Stewart led the team with 21 total points and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with four 3-pointers for Game 2, while Ionescu hit the winning shot, a 3-pointer, in Game 3 and when their shots were not falling for them in games 4 and 5 Sabally and Fiebich stepped in to give the team sparks and Jones remained consistent in scoring.
“It really just means a lot to win with her,” Jones said about Stewart, sharing how she admired her prior to the WNBA and wanted to play at her level. “To watch the way she approaches the game every day, the way that she leads our team, because she is our leader, we look to her in tough moments. It just means a lot to have everything come together to win together.”
Jones’ consistency in scoring throughout the series averaging 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds, and shooting 54.2% from the field and 19-for-19 from the free-throw line, earned her MVP.
The Liberty trailed 19-10 at the end of the first quarter and 34-27 at halftime, but outscored the Lynx 20-10 in the third quarter alone. “I prepared her at halftime,” said Coach Sandy Brondello about Sabally who came into the game and made an immediate difference on the scoreboard at the end of the third quarter. “I said, ‘be ready. We may go for a big lineup, so Nyara, you’re coming in.’ I just thought what she brings, she has that x-factor.”
Sabally had 13 total points. Fiebich added 13 points and passed Briann January for most points scored by a rookie in WNBA Finals history (61).
Stewart made two free throws with five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game before overtime. The foul was challenged by Coach Cheryl Reeves, but the referees determined the replay supported the call. “That was not a foul,” Coach Reeves said. “That call should have been reversed on the challenge.”
The Liberty went on to outscore the Lynx 7-2 in overtime.
Reeves has led the Lynx to 4 WNBA championships. Napheesa Collier led the Lynx in Game 5 with 22 total points. She had seven rebounds, two blocks and one steal. Kayla McBride added 21 points and contributed five rebounds, five assists and a game high four steals.
The Liberty became the first team in New York to win a professional basketball championship since the New York Nets won the ABA championship in 1976 with Julius Erving (Dr. J), before joining the NBA. The Knicks last won a championship in 1973. The 1976 championship was the last title the Nets franchise won.
The New York Liberty players looked forward to more celebrating in days ahead. The celebration continues with a victory parade up the Canyon of Heroes and ceremony at City Hall in Manhattan on Thursday followed by a celebration at Barclays Center Thursday evening.
Recent Comments