As is the case with every WNBA Finals, there is a litany of intriguing storylines going into what will surely be an unforgettable championship round between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx.
The only issue is Liberty vs. Lynx may not have the robust build-up of previous Finals contests given there is only two days between the conclusion of Minnesota’s semifinal series with the Connecticut Sun (since it went five games) and the start of the Finals.
Either way, it is only appropriate that this year’s battle for a championship is down to the two teams that were the best two teams from start to finish in 2024. Still…storylines? Aplenty.
Contrasting Histories
Even though the Liberty and Lynx are two of the more storied franchises in the entire WNBA, the history of both in the Finals could not be more different.
We fondly remember the dynasty days of the 2010s when the WNBA was Minnesota’s world and everyone else was merely living in it. The Lynx won championships in odd numbered years throughout that decade – 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Rebekkah Brunson, Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen all became household names.
As for the Liberty, it has been to the Finals on five different occasions – including last season against the Aces. New York is 0-5 in the Finals. The WNBA’s flagship franchise winning a championship would be huge for the league and that is why Clara Wu Tsai, Joe Tsai, Keia Clarke and Jonathan Kolb put this team together in the first place. The Liberty are a mere three wins shy of finally accomplishing the feat – but the Lynx will not make it easy.
Old guard coaches
Four teams – the Los Angeles Sparks, Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky and Golden State Valkyries – have coaching vacancies as of this writing. With so much coaching change going on throughout the W, the two coaches that will be representing their respective teams this year have seemingly stood the test of WNBA time.
Without Cheryl Reeve, who knows if that 2010s dynasty even happens. And she has done it again. Reeve has done virtually everything there is to do as a coach – including win a gold medal at the Olympics a few months ago. She added another Coach of the Year award to her already extensive trophy case.
The same applies to Sandy Brondello in terms of being a W coach that has stood the test of W time. The way her departure happened from the Phoenix Mercury is one that still raises plenty of eyebrows but she did coach the Mercury to a championship in 2014. Of course, she has also been an international coach with Australia in Olympics and FIBA World Cups.
A win for investment
So much of the WNBA conversation in recent years has revolved around teams that do invest vs. teams that do not invest real money into their product.
Investment has not been a problem for Glen Taylor at the Lynx and the Tsais at the Liberty.
WNBA players have put teams on notice the past few seasons and have basically told said teams that the best way to assemble a formidable competitor is to have top-notch facilities.
New York and Minnesota certainly have those. And one of those franchises is about to be rewarded with a championship in as many as 10 days.
Commissioner’s Cup Rematch
For the second consecutive Finals, they are effectively serving as a rematch of the Commissioner’s Cup Final.
In 2023, the Liberty and Aces matched up in the Commissioner’s Cup Final – in Las Vegas. New York claimed victory and Jonquel Jones claimed MVP honors. That only led up to that year’s Finals where Las Vegas dispatched New York in four games.
A late offensive outburst from the Lynx was what won Minnesota this year’s Commissioner’s Cup trophy with the final result being 94-89 over the Liberty and Napheesa Collier claiming MVP honors. The game was controversially staged at UBS Arena in Nassau County because of the NBA Draft occurring around the same week at Barclays Center.
On-court matchups
One on-court matchup that intrigues us is both Lynx and Liberty have some of the best 3-point shooting specialists in the entire WNBA.
Kayla McBride representing the midnight blue and aurora green. Sabrina Ionescu representing the seafoam, black and copper.
Let us not forget the fact that Minnesota and New York have some of the best four forwards in the game. The Breanna Stewart-Napheesa Collier matchup will be fun to watch – and will be one that will test UConn fan loyalties.
The Courtney and Courtney show. Both teams have a pair of veteran “Courtney” guards in Vandersloot for the Liberty and Williams at the Lynx – both of whom are elite ball distributors. Bridget Carleton and All-Rookie recipient Leonie Fiebich as x-factors for their respective teams. What will we see out of Alanna Smith and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton?
The difference maker in this series could be Jonquel Jones. Her versatility is a massive boost to the Liberty. We know Jones can sink 3-pointers but we also know she can be a beast in the paint.
Jones was, without question, the Liberty’s most consistent player in last year’s Finals with the Aces. In addition, she is more than starving for that first experience of championship euphoria after coming so close on three different occasions – including twice with the Connecticut Sun.
And with Minnesota playing without a true five, Jones could create a matchup problem New York will surely exploit throughout this Finals. The Lynx do guard the paint well so a key to victory for Minnesota will be to get No. 35 in foul trouble and have her warming the bench.
Sixth – Julius & KAT?
It is somewhat ironic that it was not that long ago that Minnesota and New York were in the headlines for MNBA reasons.
The Timberwolves and Knicks recently engineered a trade on the eve of the NBA season that sent Julius Randle to the T’Wolves and Karl Anthony-Towns to the Knicks.
How they view this upcoming WNBA Finals will test their loyalties as well…
Prediction
Liberty in 5.
