At long last, the New York Liberty are WNBA champions.
The Liberty won their first title in franchise history on Sunday, defeating the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime in Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals. It was the first winner-take-all Finals game to go to overtime in WNBA history.
New York is the last of the eight original WNBA franchises to win a title. The win brings New York its first professional basketball title since the New York Nets won the ABA title in 1976.
The Liberty were down by as many as 12 points in the second quarter but battled back to go ahead in the third -- outscoring the Lynx by 10 in that time frame. A back-and-forth fourth quarter followed. With 1:04 left to play, the score was tied at 58 apiece before Napheesa Collier put Minnesota ahead by two.
Breanna Stewart then hit two free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining to tie it. The Lynx missed on their ensuing possession, sending the game into overtime. New York took the lead on its first possession of the extra period and never looked back.
Here's how the sports world reacted to the Liberty's championship.
A monumental statement with a ring to match. pic.twitter.com/O24Q8exf2i
— Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) October 21, 2024
Congratulations to the @nyliberty and its amazing fans!!! @breannastewart you did it with an amazing team effort🗽#CongratsEllie
— Lisa Leslie (@LisaLeslie) October 21, 2024
🗽🔥 @nyliberty let's go!!
— Jalen Brunson (@jalenbrunson1) October 21, 2024
Congrats to NY Liberty on the ship. This WNBA season has been fun to watch as a first time fan 😉
— Candace Parker (@Candace_Parker) October 21, 2024
Congrats @nyliberty on your first @WNBA championship! Hard fought for sure!
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) October 21, 2024
@minnesotalynx thank you for an awesome series! You gave it all you had and we appreciate it!
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) October 21, 2024
Gratulation an Leonie und Nyara zur Meisterschaft!!! Feiert schön!!!
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) October 21, 2024
Shout out both the @minnesotalynx and the @nyliberty... hell of a Finals. @WNBA hell of a year!
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) October 21, 2024
insane series 😳
— JJJ (@jarenjacksonjr) October 21, 2024
s/o stewie and the squad, what a year
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) October 21, 2024
Refs called this game like they knew the assignment in the 2nd half boy. Great game .
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) October 21, 2024
Stewie & Sab gotta treat the rest of the team to the finest steakhouse in NY 😂
— Arike Ogunbowale (@Arike_O) October 21, 2024
MVP!!!! @jus242 🇧🇸🇧🇸🇧🇸🇧🇸🇧🇸
— Buddy Love !!!! (@buddyhield) October 21, 2024
ESPN Research contributed to this story.
