The Lynx will get a Game 5 against the Liberty in the WNBA Finals. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Lynx weren’t going to let this WNBA Finals stop at four games.
With their backs against the wall in a win-or-stay-home Game 4, the Lynx outlasted the New York Liberty in am 82-80 thriller to force a decisive Game 5. The winner-take-all affair is scheduled for Sunday at 8 p.m. ET in New York (ESPN).
The game came down to a final Lynx possession with 18 seconds left. They turned to offensive menace Courtney Williams in isolation, but her would-be winner clanked away. However, Bridget Carleton came down with the rebound, and drew a pair of free throws.
She made both, leaving two seconds for the Liberty to stun the Target Center crowd. An off-balance Sabrina Ionescu 3-point attempt was well off, and that was it.
The win was another balanced performance by the Minnesota offense, and a tenacious stand by the Minnesota defense. All five Lynx starters scored in double figures, led by Kayla McBride’s 19 points. Williams also had 15 points and seven assists, while MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier had 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists, four steals and her Defensive Player of the Year form guarding Breanna Stewart.
Neither team led by more than six points all game, and the Liberty had no shortage of opportunities to clinch their first championship in franchise history. It was fast-paced and messy night, with 15 team turnovers and a combined 10-for-36 night from Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.
Now, the WNBA Finals between the league’s top two teams this year — one holding the best record in the East and the No. 1 offensive rating, the other best in the West and No. 1 in defensive rating — will come down to one game in Barclays Center. It’s been a huge year for the league’s profile, and there’s no better way to end it.
Here’s how it all went down at Yahoo Sports:
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Inbound to Sabrina Ionescu, coming off a deep curl, but she misses wide left, and we’re back to Brooklyn for a winner-take-all game five. This series, which felt destined to go five, delivers again. JJ: 21 points, 8 reb Leo: 19 pts Stewie: 11 pts, 11 reb, 3 stl Sab/B: 10 pts each
Liberty attempt to go to Ionescu again, but she also doesn’t get a good look with two seconds on the board and the heave isn’t close. SEE Y’ALL IN BROOKLYN.
Williams killed clock on the Lynx possession to take herself and attempts an iffy midrange jumper. Bridget Carleton attempts to tip it back in and Sabrina Ionescu is called for a foul. That is now the second time this series Ionescu has been called for a final on a last-seconds Lynx shot attempt.
NYL comes up empty, committing a shot clock violation with 18.3 seconds left 🚨
Stewart brings down an offensive rebound, but can’t get a bucket to go and commits a shot clock violation with an attempt wide. Minny takes a reset timeout, 18.3 seconds left and the game tied, 80
Minnesota Lynx list tonight’s attendance at 19,210
That’s now 2 of the 7 largest attendance marks in WNBA Finals history in the past 2 games.
This Finals series is now averaging 18,627 per game (league record).
TIED AGAIN. They traded 3s back-and-forth. Jonquel Jones brings New York back with a three-point play (Collier’s second foul) that prompted a Minnesota timeout. There’s 1:10 left in Game 4. Minny’s season on the line.
Jonquel Jones with a DEEP seal on Napheesa Collier and Stewie finds her. JJ finishes the layup through contact, and the and-one brings us to 80-apiece with just 70 seconds to play.
This review has gone on long enough to play the entire Four Non-Blondes song, “What’s Up?” The Minnesota crowd chants “what’s going on?!” with the chorus, before the referees finally return with a verdict: the ball stays with the Lynx. https://t.co/bXWw7disFM
Collier told us the other day she and Stewart aren’t talking through this Finals, which is a funny little anecdote as they review this play. Both ended up on the floor when Stewart reached in for the ball. And Stewart tried to get Collier T-ed up earlier in the seriTheir Unrivaled league is tipping off in January and both said they’d re-focus on it once their WNBA season is over in a few days.
Truly a game where every single possession matters. Liberty score a quick six to take the lead back, 72-70, and Reeve calls a timeout. Ionescu drove against Courtney Williams, Jonquel Jones blocked Kayla McBride on the other end and Fiebich put in a bucket completely alone in the paint as if it were pre-game warm-ups.
That is now 13 lead changes and 11 ties. The game hasn’t deviated farther than six points.
Stewie was all alone on that drive to the basket and couldn’t get the easy layup. There’s a scrum for the ball and Stewie ends up on top of Dorka Juhasz. Stewie stretched out her shoulder afterward. And after Dorka scores, Ionescu misses another 3. Sums up the Liberty’s night so far, though it’s still a one-possession game. Lynx lead, 68-65, at 8:07.
4Q: Lynx 64, Liberty 63
These two teams are so evenly matched. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton was the X-Factor in Game 2 despite not being 100% healthy after right knee surgery and a minor re-injury late in the season. Now it’s Alanna Smith giving it all with a back issue and bringing the Lynx back into the lead.
Ionescu and Stewart are a combined 7-23 (0-6 from 3) for 14 points. And Stewart still has the four fouls.
With 15 points and 6 assists, Courtney Williams is responsible for 29 Lynx points so far with 12 minutes to go
Another tie game, 61-61. Alanna Smith scored on a layup, reeled in an offensive rebound that led to Stewart’s fourth foul (she hit the bench) and a Collier free throw, then drilled a 3.
Jonquel Jones hits her fourth 3-pointer from the corner and puts Liberty on top, 59-55, at 5:02. She has a game-high 18 points with a quick nine in the first five minutes of the third quarter.
