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In a thrilling showdown, Bridget Carleton sank two crucial‍ free throws with just two seconds remaining, securing an 82-80 victory for the Minnesota Lynx over the New York Liberty and compelling a decisive Game 5 in the WNBA finals on Friday night.
This exhilarating Game 5 is set to take place on Sunday night in New York, marking the first time since 2019 that the finals have reached this pivotal stage, when the Washington Mystics triumphed over the Connecticut Sun.
“The final 40 minutes of this season could be anyone’s game; we’re ready to give it our all, and I’m excited,” expressed Kayla McBride, who topped the Lynx’s scoring with 19 points.
Courtney Williams contributed with 15 points for Minnesota, playing a vital role in limiting the scoring of Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. Ionescu’s final shot at the buzzer fell short, not even touching the rim.
2024 WNBA Finals Overview
“We are definitely energized,” stated Napheesa Collier. “It’s Game 5 of the finals, and we need to execute our game plan flawlessly.”
In contrast to the previous‌ three games of the series, where one team dominated with double-digit leads, this match remained intensely competitive throughout. The game featured 14 lead changes and 13 ties, with neither team stretching their advantage beyond six points.
With a tied score of 80-80 and only 18 seconds on the clock, Williams dribbled to run down the time but missed her jumper. Carleton seized the rebound in the paint and was fouled by Ionescu.
Displaying composure, Carleton converted both free throws, while Ionescu couldn’t replicate her previous late-game heroics from Game 3, where she had hit a remarkable 28-footer to give the Liberty a series lead.
“It was a strategic play to get [Jonquel Jones] positioned down low, but Sabrina needed to step out,” commented Liberty coach Sandy Brondello regarding the critical last play. “In the crunch time, we aimed to get the ball to our strongest post player, but their defense executed flawlessly.”
Jones led New York with 21 points, while Leonie Fiebich added 19. In contrast, Stewart, who scored 30 points in Game 3, struggled with only 11 points on 5-of-20 shooting, and Ionescu ended with 10 points on 5-of-16 shooting.
The Lynx are on the brink of securing a historic fifth WNBA championship, which would surpass the titles held by the Houston Comets and Seattle Storm. Meanwhile, the Liberty, who are still in pursuit of their first championship after five finals defeats, were one of the original franchises when the league commenced in 1997 but remain the sole team among the original eight yet to claim the title.
The Liberty faced Las Vegas in last season’s finals, and Friday marked the anniversary of the Aces clinching the title in Game 4.
The Lynx have not been in the finals since 2017, the year in which they secured their fourth championship in a remarkable run of seven years.
Minnesota had established a 77-72 lead with just over three minutes left, but New York rallied, scoring eight of the next 11 points, including a pivotal three-point play by Jones with 1:10 on the clock to level the score at 80.
Both teams had opportunities before Carleton stepped to the foul line. McBride missed a layup with 56 seconds remaining, but the Lynx’s defense forced a shot-clock violation on the other end when Stewart’s lane shot missed its target with 18 seconds on the clock.
“We aimed to secure the victory tonight, but as Sandy noted, our fans are unparalleled. Heading into our home environment on Sunday, knowing we have their unwavering support, will be crucial during challenging moments,” said Stewart. “I’m eagerly anticipating Sunday’s game.”
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