We really need to meet whoever wrote the script for Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA Finals.
Whoever that script writer is probably (for now) may not want to show their face anywhere in the New York City area anytime soon.
The New York Liberty had it won. The team built up a 15-point in the fourth quarter. It appeared the Liberty would indeed go up 1-0 and finally earn its first victory in a Game 1 in the six Finals the team had participated in.
Then – the Minnesota Lynx happened. The Cheryl Reeve-coached Minnesota Lynx happened. Minnesota displayed exactly why they have been among the league’s best all season long.
If nothing else, New York learned last night that no lead is safe against this team. Also, that final sequence of plays from the end of the fourth quarter to overtime appeared to be a microcosm of the Finals history of the two franchises.
The Lynx are vying for its fifth WNBA championship. The Liberty – an Original Eight franchise – is still in search of its first. Even despite the comeback, the Liberty still had a 83-80 lead late. A few more seconds and New York still assumes a 1-0 lead in the series.
That Courtney Williams 3-pointer – which became a four-point play after she was fouled by Sabrina Ionescu – was a massive game changer. If one play could sum up the playoff histories of these two franchises, that was the play there.
And it appeared that Napheesa Collier’s block on Breanna Stewart would seal it – but she was called for a foul with 0.8 seconds remaining with the scoreboard reading Minnesota 84 and New York 83.
Stewart – the Syracuse native – had a chance to be the hero if she made both of her free throws. She went one of two at the line. The ESPN cameras caught how upset the former league (and two-time Finals) MVP was at herself for missing what would have been the game-winner.
More often than not when there is a miraculous comeback combined with a massive collapse, the narrative that gets driven by the media is that one team “wanted it” more often than the other. After seeing how furious Stewie was at herself for missing that one free throw, tell that to her face that the Liberty “wanted it” less than the Lynx. As frenetic as the pace of those closing moments was, Game 1 felt more like a Game 5, not a Game 1.
One can see throughout overtime that the Liberty were all out of sorts mentally. New York began to make plays later in the extra frame, but all of the momentum was in the Lynx favor throughout overtime.
With both teams all knotted at 93, Naphessa Collier’s jumper over Jonquel Jones – was the go-ahead and game-winning basket for the Lynx. Then in the closing minutes of overtime, Stewart had the chance to redeem herself from the missed free throw. She had as good a look at a layup as one could possibly get – but blew the bunny and Minnesota stole Game 1.
What particularly made the previous evening’s defeat so heartbreaking for the Liberty was that was the game New York was more than favored to win. The Liberty were well-rested after their four game triumph over the Aces. Meanwhile, the Lynx just came off of a grueling five-game semifinal series with the Connecticut Sun not to mention having to travel on short rest to New York for the start of the Finals.
It was all there for the Liberty – before it evaporated. New York had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Game 2 is this Sunday and it will be a true test of the Liberty’s mental toughness. Minnesota has to be at an all-time high in terms of confidence. One can never count out a team with established stars such as Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Jonquel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot. One must also never count out a team that has Leonie Fiebich as a worthwhile x-factor.
But Minnesota has had New York’s number all season long – and last night was another reason why. Last night displayed that the Liberty have the offensive firepower to match that of the Lynx and, for all intents and purposes, New York should have won that game.
The old saying in sports is that it is more mental than physical. Physically we know the Liberty will be there and give it their best efforts once again in Game 2. Mentally? That could be another story.
