The WNBA Finals poster is exciting, between numbers 1 and 2 of the regular season, and Game 1 between the Liberty and the Lynx offered a crazy scenario! Trailing by 11 points with three minutes to go, the Minnesota players finally won 95-93 on a superb turnaround jumper from their superstar, Napheesa Collier, scored nine seconds from the end of overtime. Behind, Breanna Stewart will open the path to the basket, but her layup will hit the board without falling into the basket. From the start, the Lynx regained home advantage.
An end to overtime like this meeting, completely crazy, where the players went blow for blow. Under the eyes of an audience of personalities, such as Spike Lee and Meek Mill, it was the Liberty, through Jonquel Jones (24 points, 10 rebounds) who had the best start to lead by 18 points in the first half-time. Then the Lynx chipped away at their deficit thanks to Courtney Williams (23 points), Kayla McBride (22 points) and of course Collier (21 points). Still trailing by 11 points at the start of money time, the Lynx went 12-0 to take control of the match, with a 4-point action from Williams. There are then five seconds left to play (84-83).
Breanna Stewart misses the victory throw!
Liberty ball, and Breanna Stewart takes the winning shot two seconds from the siren. She is countered by Napheesa Collier. On the throw-in, this same Stewart is found by Ionescu, and the referees call a foul on the arm. The referees verify that the foul occurred before the buzzer, and Stewart is left with the winning shots. She puts on the first, and in front of 18,000 people standing, she misses the second. Extension!
The Liberty missed their chance, and Sabrina Ionescu’s teammates missed their first six shots. But the Lynx do not take advantage and Jonquel Jones brings the Liberty to -2 (89-87) then equalizes (93-93). What’s next? It’s this superb basket from Collier, and this new miss from Stewart at the buzzer…
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
