The best team in the regular season proved to be the last squad standing in the end.
At long last, the 27-year odyssey has finally ended for the New York Liberty.
In a thrilling 2024 WNBA Finals series finish, the Liberty overcame a 12-point Game 5 deficit to outlast the Minnesota Lynx, 67-62, in overtime to claim their maiden title in front of a raucous Barclays Center crowd.
CHILLS... 🗽
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 21, 2024
NEW YORK LIBERTY SECURES THE TITLE IN BROOKLYN! #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/aOJ4ilOSvc
[ALSO READ: New York wins first WNBA title as Liberty outlast Lynx in thrilling Game 5]
Jonquel Jones took home the Finals MVP plum, leading New York with 17 points. The former MVP stepped up big time on a night fellow stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu combined for 18 points in a measly 5-out-of-24 shooting.
Jonquel Jones was a force in Game 5, finishing with 17 PTS and 6 REB to lead the Liberty to their first-ever title and earning MVP honors 🏆#WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/yviZzPV3qu
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 21, 2024
With that, the sporting world celebrated Liberty's monumental win starting with former Finals MVP Lisa Leslie who also gave props to now three-time champ Stewart.
“Congratulations to the @nyliberty and its amazing fans!!! @breannastewart you did it with an amazing team effort,” Leslie tweeted.
Congratulations to the @nyliberty and its amazing fans!!! @breannastewart you did it with an amazing team effort🗽#CongratsEllie
— Lisa Leslie (@LisaLeslie) October 21, 2024
Another WNBA legend in Candace Parker, a three-time champion who retired last year, extended her congratulatory remarks to the Liberty, who are one of the eight original teams who took part in the inaugural WNBA season back in 1997.
“Congrats to NY Liberty on the ship. This WNBA season has been fun to watch as a first time fan,” Parker posted.
— Candace Parker (@Candace_Parker) October 21, 2024
New York Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson also took part to celebrate the Liberty’s historical win at home.
“@nyliberty let’s go,” Brunson tweeted.
🗽🔥 @nyliberty let’s go!!
— Jalen Brunson (@jalenbrunson1) October 21, 2024
Brunson and the Knicks are heading to the 2024-25 NBA season aiming to bring the title also to New York, which last hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy way back in 1973.
Indiana Pacers star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton, who knocked off Brunson’s Knicks in an epic seven-game East semifinal series last playoffs, gave flowers anew to Stewart and the Liberty.
“Shoutout to Stewie and the squad! What a year,” Haliburton commented.
s/o stewie and the squad, what a year
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) October 21, 2024
2020 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and champion MVP Kevin Garnett and former Defensive Player of the Year awardee Jarren Jackson Jr. commended an unforgettable title series between New York and Minnesota, who finished as the league’s top two teams in the regular season.
“Shout out both the Lynx and the Liberty… hell of a Finals. WNBA, hell of a year,” Garnett reacted.
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,” Jackson said.
insane series 😳
— JJJ (@jarenjacksonjr) October 21, 2024
The mission all season was to erase the memory of their 2023 WNBA Finals heartbreak at the hands of the Aces to win the first championship in franchise history.
Mission accomplished.
New York has finally conquered the mountain and can celebrate a long-awaited WNBA championship in the Big Apple.
