David Dow/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
The 2024 WNBA Finals will come all the way down to a winner-takes-all Recreation 5 between the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty.
The Liberty had the Lynx on the point of elimination till Bridget Carleton made two clutch free throws late on Friday evening to win Recreation 4 and lengthen the sequence.
Lynx star Napheesa Collier and Liberty icon Sabrina Ionescu at the moment are set to face off this Sunday in Brooklyn with a championship on the road.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
THE LYNX KEEP THEIR SEASON ALIVE 🙌
WINNER TAKE ALL GAME 5 ON SUNDAY 🍿 pic.twitter.com/y8HbkxeWKD
Chris Paul @CP3
Watch Get together for Recreation 5 WNBA Finals Sunday in San Antonio?…the place we at?? 👀🍿 #WNBA
Alex Morgan @alexmorgan13
Okay that was wild. How will you not be pumped for Recreation 5!! 😳😤 #WNBA
In contrast to Recreation 1 and Recreation 3 of the Finals, which have been outlined by double-digit leads and beautiful comebacks, Recreation 4 was a closely-contested match that noticed each groups commerce leads forwards and backwards all through the evening.
The Liberty held a two-point lead as late as the ultimate six minutes of the fourth quarter, when Ionescu assisted on a Leonie Fiebich layup to drag New York forward.
Kayla McBride then tied the sport for the Lynx, and the 2 group traded factors forwards and backwards till Ionescu was assessed with a capturing foul with two seconds remaining on the clock.
Carleton sunk each of her ensuing free throw makes an attempt to drag the Lynx again in entrance.
WNBA @WNBA
Bridget Carleton will get fouled on the put again and sinks each free throws to safe the Recreation 4 WIN for Minnesota 🚨#WNBAFinals offered by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/kXgWlpEu2Z
GOWIE @DaKidGowie
I like Sabrina Ionescu, however she has to cease committing these dangerous fouls seconds earlier than the top of regulation. They finally value the Liberty each Video games 1 and 4.
GOTTA 👏🏾 BE 👏🏾 DISCIPLINED!👏🏾
With the clock expiring and the title on the road, Ionescu went for a 35-foot three-pointer. She missed, thanks partially to protection by Carleton.
SportsCenter @SportsCenter
NY LIBERTY MISSED A POTENTIAL GAME-WINNER 😱
FOR ALL THE MARBLES. SUNDAY NIGHT 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Uw5ndPvHb1
Mark Schindler @MG_Schindler
Should you’re a wing in school/highschool that is not a major possibility
Examine Bridget Carleton.
Have a look at her progress, impression, how she’s discovered her groove
Actually needed to work to search out her greatest self bodily and in her position, however has turn into the most effective position gamers within the W.
Carleton completed the sport with 12 factors after going 4-for-4 from the foul line, whereas Kayla McBride led the Lynx with 19 factors within the win.
Hardwood Jungle @HardwoodJungle
Kayla McBride is essentially the most underrated bucket within the W rn
Collier in the meantime confirmed why she completed the common season because the MVP runner-up to Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson as she paced the group with 9 rebounds and 4 steals whereas including 14 factors.
StatMamba @StatMamba
Napheesa Collier has tied the report for many steals in a Finals sequence in WNBA historical past. pic.twitter.com/rMcI2zR0y5
Seerat Sohi @seeratsohi
Napheesa Collier has now damaged the single-season playoff report for minutes performed and factors, whereas putting second in free throws made (tied with Tamika Catchings), fourth (3-way tie) in steals and tenth in blocks. And he or she’s not completed but.
Jonquel Jones scored a game-high 21 factors within the Liberty’s loss, whereas Fiebich added 19 factors for New York.
Angie C. @Music_Is_Me88
Hey Liberty yall simply wasted a Jonquel Jones masterclass 😔😠 @nyliberty #WNBAFinals #WNBA
Nae. @naewiththeslay
Stewie solely had 11, Sabrina barely had 10. Recreation 5 gonna be traumatic 😭 #WNBA
That is the primary time a WNBA Finals has gone to Recreation 5 since 2019, when the Washington Mystics defeated the Connecticut Solar. It additionally may very well be the final time the league’s remaining sequence will probably be determined by a winner-takes-all Recreation 5, as commissioner Cathy Engelbert has announced the WNBA is increasing to a best-of-seven format subsequent season.
The Liberty are searching for the franchise’s first WNBA title, whereas the Lynx need to add their fifth championship and first since 2017. Which membership emerges from the 2024 season as champions will come all the way down to Sunday’s 8:00 p.m. tipoff at Barclays Middle.
