As the players have said throughout this epic series, this is the WNBA Finals we deserved.
And now it all comes down to this, a winner-take-all Game 5 in Barclays Center.
The New York Liberty are trying to win the first WNBA title in franchise history. This is New York’s sixth trip to the Finals over nearly three decades, and getting here is the reason the Liberty put together a super team — is it the time they finally come out on top?
The Minnesota Lynx have won four titles, all under coach Cheryl Reeve, but none with this group. Reeve built her roster around superstar forward Napheesa Collier, filling out her team with role players and overlooked stars and then coaching the hell out of them. Is Minnesota about to become the first WNBA franchise to collect a fifth championship?
All we know for sure is that this series is likely to come down to the wire. Three of the four games have been decided by a single possession, with the first going to overtime.
As Collier said Sunday morning at shootaround, “this is such good basketball.”
“Like if you’re rooting for a team, it’s nerve-wracking,” Collier said. “And if you’re part of a team, it’s very nerve-wracking. But objectively, this is such a fun series.”
As the cool kids say, no lies detected.
Follow along with USA TODAY Sports for live updates and highlights on Game 5:
Lynx continue to lead through the third quarter against Liberty
The Lynx lead the Liberty 38-33 with 5:11 left in the third quarter. The Minnesota led by as much as 12 points tonight.
Alana Smith hurt, again
One thing is for sure: the Minnesota Lynx cannot win a championship without Alanna Smith, who is playing on a bad back.
And after taking another hard fall, Smith looks like she’s in serious pain.
Smith went to the grown fighting for a rebound with New York’s Jonquel Jones, and slammed hard to the ground, immediately reaching for her lower back. She waved to the bench right away, asking for a sub and biting her lip in clear pain. She’s moving very gingerly as the Lynx head to the locker room. -Lindsay Schnell
Halftime: Lynx 34, Liberty 27
Napheesa Collier and Minnesota have been able to take advantage of the early lead they’ve produced in the opening minutes of the game. Collier scored a game-high 14 points in the first half for the Lynx.
Kayla McBride has shot 4 of 5 from the field with nine points, three rebounds and three assists in the opening half
Sabrina Ionescu remains scoreless after going 0 for 8 from the field for the Liberty. Breanna Stewart produced her first points of the game in the second quarter. She has five points and 10 rebounds at halftime.
Who is New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello?
New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello knows what it’s like to coach – and play – in big games.
The Australia native coached the Phoenix Mercury to the WNBA championship in 2014 and was named Coach of the Year that season before guiding the Mercury back to the Finals in 2021. Brondello took over the Liberty before the 2022 season, and one year later, coached New York to its first WNBA Finals appearance in 21 years. Now, she has New York back in the Finals for the sixth time in franchise history.
Brondello began her WNBA career as a player in 1998 with the now-defunct Detroit Shock and was named an All-Star one year later. She also played for the Seattle Storm and the defunct Miami Sol.
But, the WNBA isn’t the place where Brondello has made her mark in the basketball world. She won two Olympic silver medals and one bronze playing for the Australian national team at the 2004, 2000, and 1996 Summer Games, respectively. She added another medal as a coach, helping the Opals win the bronze medal at the recent 2024 Paris Olympics.
Famous faces in the crowd
Game 5 of the WNBA Finals attracted several celebrities out to watch the Lynx take on the Liberty in New York.
Rapper Fat Joe, WNBA rookie Angel Reese, Jennifer Hudson, Common, and Jason Sudeikis were all spotted on the ESPN broadcast.
End of 1st quarter: Lynx 19, Liberty 10
Napheesa Collier leads all players with nine eight points and three rebounds in the first quarter for the Lynx. Alanna Smith had five points and three rebounds.
Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu were scoreless through the first quarter of play. Jonquel Jones led the Liberty with four points.
Sabrina Ionescu sets new Liberty playoff milestone
Sabrina Ionescu now holds sole possession of the Liberty’s postseason assists list. She has 117 assists.
Napheesa Collier provides Lynx with an early lead
Napheesa Collier and the Lynx are off to a fast start in the first quarter. Collier scored six of the team’s first eight points and built an early 8-2 lead with 5:57 left in the first quarter.
When is Game 5 of the WNBA Finals?
Game 5 of the WNBA championship series between the Liberty and Lynx is Sunday at 8 p.m. ET at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
How to watch Game 5 of the WNBA Finals
Game 5 will be broadcast on ESPN with Ryan Ruocco (play-by-play), Rebecca Lobo (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline reporter) on the call.
Will there be a live stream of Game 5 of the WNBA Finals?
The game can be live-streamed on ESPN+ or the ESPN app, in addition to Fubo, which is offering a free trial.
Liberty vs. Lynx odds, line
The New York Liberty are favorites to defeat the Minnesota Lynx in Friday’s WNBA Finals matchup, according to the BetMGM odds. Looking to wager? Check out the top betting apps in 2024 offering the top betting promos and bonuses in 2024.
Spread: Liberty (-5.5) Moneyline: Liberty (-275); Lynx (+225) Over/under: 157.5
Who is playing in the WNBA Finals?
The New York Liberty bring their 32-8 season into Minnesota to take on the four-time champion Lynx. A title this season would mark the Liberty’s first championship.
2024 WNBA Finals bracket, schedule, and results
Best-of-5; All times Eastern Game 1: Thursday, Oct. 10, Minnesota Lynx 95, New York Liberty 93
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 13, New York Liberty 80, Minnesota Lynx 66
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 16, New York Liberty 80, Minnesota Lynx 77
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 18, Minnesota Lynx 82, New York Liberty 80
Game 5: Sunday, Oct. 20: Minnesota Lynx at New York Liberty, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
2024 WNBA playoffs: Semifinals scores and results
All times Eastern Sunday, Sept. 29
Game 1: New York 87, Las Vegas 77, Liberty leads series 1-0
Game 1: Connecticut 73, Minnesota 70, Sun leads series 1-0
Tuesday, Oct. 1
Game 2: New York 88, Las Vegas 84, Liberty leads series 2-0
Game 2: Minnesota 77, Connecticut 70, Series tied 1-1
Friday, Oct. 4
Game 3: Minnesota 90, Connecticut 81, Lynx leads series 2-1
Game 3: New York 81, Las Vegas 95, Liberty leads series 2-1
Sunday, Oct. 6
Game 4: New York 76, Las Vegas 62, Liberty wins series 3-1
Game 4: Connecticut 92, Minnesota 82, Series tied 2-2
Tuesday, Oct. 8
Game 5: Minnesota 88, Connecticut 77 Lynx win series
How to watch the 2024 WNBA Finals with streaming
The 2024 WNBA Finals series will be broadcast across ABC or ESPN, depending on the game. Streaming options for the series will be on Fubo, Sling, and the WNBA League Pass.
Sabrina Ionescu and Mila: A love story
NEW YORK — The Finals storyline no one knew they needed: Napheesa Collier’s 2-year-old’s favorite player in the WNBA might actually be New York guard Sabrina Ionescu. Shortly after the Lynx won Game 4 in Minneapolis and forced a winner-take-all Game 5 in Brooklyn, a video started circulating social media of an ecstatic Mila hugging Ionescu and her husband, Hroniss Grasu.
Turns out Ionescu and Mila became fast friends in Paris during the Olympics, hanging out at the USA Basketball hotel. “We were attached at the hip,” Ionescu told USA TODAY Sports, her smile stretched ear to ear. “We got breakfast together every morning. (After Game 4) I was walking to the bus — it was the first time I’d seen her since Paris — and I hear this little kid screaming my name and I just lit up. It was a reunion on both sides, I’d been waiting to see her.”
Ionescu was popular with all the USA Basketball kids during the Olympics, earning the votes of Team USA when it came to “player you would hire to be your nanny.” Mila was her No. 1 fan, frequently asking people “Where’s my Sab?” when she couldn’t find Ionescu.
Collier said Mila tends to scream “Sabrina!” anytime she sees Ionescu on TV. But Collier said there’s no question who Mila — frequently seen around Minneapolis’ Target Center in a mini No. 24 jersey — is rooting for in this Finals series.
“She’s a friend to all, but she’s rooting for us,” Collier said, laughing. “It’s Mama over everybody.” -Lindsay Schnell
Potential New York Liberty lineup
Breanna Stewart Sabrina Ionescu Jonquel Jones Betnijah Laney Leonie Fiebich
Potential Minnesota Lynx lineup
Napheesa Collier Kayla McBride Alanna Smith Bridget Carleton Courtney Williams
WNBA Finals format: Going to 7 Games next season
No one has played more minutes this series than Minnesota forward Napheesa Collier, a sixth-year veteran who has already set a single-postseason record for scoring with 263 points and counting. Collier has played 158 of a possible 165 minutes through four games (Game 1 went to overtime) and when told of those numbers, she laughed and said, “I”m not surprised,” adding that she doesn’t know how anyone else could have played more than her.
So what will it feel like next year when the Finals goes to seven games, mirroring every other major pro league? “I know it’s great for the sport and everything but, shit,” Collier said. “That’s gonna be a battle.”
Her coach agrees. “I’m a big fans of watching NBA Finals and playoffs, and having been part of hard five
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