When all hope seemed lost, the Minnesota Lynx never quit.
When in doubt, they turn to superstars Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams to hit the big shots.
Collier drained the clutch go-ahead basket, Williams had her fair share of late-game heroics, and the Lynx completed an 18-point comeback to steal Game 1 from the New York Liberty, 95-93, in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.
ONE DOWN. pic.twitter.com/x0Uqy5Vo58
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) October 11, 2024
With the game hanging in the balance at 93-all, Collier hit a tough turn-around jumper against Jonquel Jones with eight seconds left for a two-point lead.
The game deciding shot by Napheesa Collier is NASTY 😈
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024
THE @minnesotalynx TAKE GAME 1 OF THE #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV WITH A FINAL SCORE OF 95-93 pic.twitter.com/4DO4NXLoG5
After a Liberty timeout, the Lynx fouled Breanna Stewart in the next play. In the final possession of the game, the two-time MVP had a chance to tie the game but missed on her drive attempt.
Collier, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, six blocks, and three steals in 43 minutes of play.
When it comes down to it, Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride are one cold duo 🤝
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024
McBride: 22 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST
Collier: 21 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST, 6 BLK #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/oPNMxWltvP
But this stunning Minnesota win will not be possible without Williams ,who wound up with a team-high 23 points on top of five rebounds and five assists.
Courtney Williams got that dog in her in case you didn't know 🐶
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024
Williams scored big buckets for the @minnesotalynx which helped propel her squad to the Game 1 dub
Final stats: 23 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/FhR3PfG9vM
The 30-year-old hit completed a clutch four-point play with five seconds left after being fouled on a three-point attempt by Sabrina Ionescu, giving the Lynx their first lead at that point, 84-83.
They've been down but not out, Courtney Williams gets the and-1 after being fouled beyond the arc 😱#WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/ohHOLP9upG
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024
It appeared to be the game-winning basket for Minnesota until Stewart was fouled by Collier. Stewie would hit the first attempt to tie things up at 84 before missing the second one as the game went to overtime.
The game tying freethrow by Breanna Stewart that sends the game to overtime
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024
At the end of regulation the score is 84-84#WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/O1Cg0MkbNi
After a Jonquel Jones triple cut the Lynx lead to one, 88-87, Williams scored back-to-back buckets in the middle of an Ionescu lay for a 93-89 cushion with 48.1 ticks left in the extra period.
Two bad passes resulted in key baskets for Ionescu and Jones in a span of four seconds to once again knot the game at 93-apiece, setting the stage for Collier’s eventual go-ahead winner.
SHE STEALS IT. SHE SCORES! Jonquel Jones ties the game up at 93 a piece in overtime #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/NObtTC1NyU
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024
Minnesota now improved to 4-1 this season in their head-to-head showdown against New York, including beating the Liberty in the 2024 Commissioner's Cup title series last June.
Meanwhile, Jones paced the Liberty with a 24-point,10-rebound double-double while Ionescu added 19. Stewart chipped in 18 and Leonie Fiebich contributing 17 markers.
New York built an early 18-point lead at 39-21 in the second frame but saw their advantage trimmed down to a single possession after Bridget Carleton inch the Lynx closer, 44-46.
The Liberty responded and mounted back the lead to 15 points, 81-66, with 5:20 seconds left in the fourth before the game went into overtime, the first WNBA Finals game to go extra five minutes since 2021.
Game 2 of the Finals series will resume on Sunday, October 13 (PH Time).
