Shortly before the New York Liberty learned they’d be playing the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals, Sabrina Ionescu said of the Liberty’s accomplishments — reaching back-to-back Finals — “I don’t see a trophy in our locker room.”
Well, that remains true — and now it gets even harder to get some hardware in the locker room.
After blitzing Minnesota in the first quarter and building as much as an 18-point lead, the Liberty blew Game 1, losing 95-93 to the visiting Lynx in overtime. Minnesota leads the best-of-five series 1-0. Game 2 is Sunday, also at Barclays Center.
Napheesa Collier hit the game-winner, a tough, turnaround fadeaway with 8.1 seconds to go. Breanna Stewart missed a layup at the buzzer.
Courtney Williams led the Lynx with 23 points, Kayla McBride scored 22 and Collier had 21 (plus eight rebounds and six blocks).
Jonquel Jones led all scorers with 24 points, also grabbing 10 rebounds.
Collier, whose team had just one day off – used to travel to New York – since it eliminated the Connecticut Sun in a Game 5 at home, said they could not focus on how far behind they were or how tired they might be.
“We’ve been in that position before. Just stay strong,“ Collier said in an on-court interview after the game of being down 18.
As for how tired they might be?
“You can’t think about that. This is the Finals.”
Q1: Liberty 32, Lynx 19
The Liberty looked energized out of the gate and jumped to a 16-point lead in the first quarter, while the Lynx looked a little sluggish. The Liberty had three days of rest after closing their semifinal series against the Las Vegas Aces in four games Sunday, whereas the Lynx came into Game 1 of the WNBA Finals with only one day of rest after winning a five-game series against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday.
“It doesn’t matter if we are tired, we have to push through,” said Napheesa Collier, who has four first-quarter points.
New York’s Jonquel Jones immediately impacted the game, scoring 10 points and grabbing three rebounds. Sabrina Ionescu also got started early with eight points (2-of-4 on 3-pointers). The Liberty have a size advantage in the series and controlled the boards early in the game, out-rebounding the Lynx 12-5 in the first quarter, including six offensive rebounds. New York dominated the paint (14 points) and converted three turnovers from the Lynx into eight points.
Minnesota’s Courtney Williams and New York’s Breanna Stewart are both in foul trouble early with two.
Liberty rely on experience while Lynx appear out-of-sync
Goodness, New York looks good — and experienced. While Minnesota feels out the WNBA Finals, which are new to this particular Lynx squad — the Liberty look right at home, and not only because this game is being played in Barclays.
The scoreboard says New York is up eight, but it feels like 18 (and for stretches during the first half, it felt like 80). The Lynx have settled in somewhat since tip, but they’re still not completely in sync.
The fact that New York has 18 fast-break points is not going to sit well with Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve. You can bet that’ll be a talking point at halftime.
The most impressive stat from the first 20 minutes might be Jonquel Jones’ zero fouls. The Lynx have no answer for Jones — especially when Breanna Stewart is also on the floor — and keeping her in the game, when she’s sometimes prone to foul trouble, could make a huge difference this series.
Halftime: Liberty 44, Lynx 36
The Lynx has appeared to settle in. After allowing New York 32 points in the first quarter, Minnesota held New York to 12 points in the second quarter and used a 10-0 run to cut the Liberty’s double-digit lead to eight by halftime.
Kayla McBride is the only Lynx player in double digits with 10 points and two assists, while Napheesa Collier has eight points and two rebounds. The Lynx are shooting 43.3% from the field and 3-of-10 from three.
Jonquel Jones leads the Liberty with 13 points and four rebounds. Sabrina Ionescu has 11 points, two steals and three rebounds. The Liberty are shooting 40.5% from the field and 6-of-20 from three and out-rebounding the Lynx 21-14, including 10 offensive rebounds.
3Q: Liberty 68, Lynx 61
New York has a 68-61 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Lynx trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half, but Minnesota fought its way back in the third quarter and came within two points of the Liberty with 5:29 remaining. New York instantly responded and pushed its lead back to 10 points before Minnesota closed it back to single digits.
The Liberty have maintained control of the boards, out-rebounding the Lynx 30-20, including a staggering 15 offensive rebounds. Four of New York’s five starters are in double figures. Jonquel Jones is closing in on a double-double, with a team-high 17 points and nine assists. Breanna Stewart has 14 points, Sabrina Ionescu 13 and Leonie Fiebich (4-of-8 on 3-pointers) 12.
Kayla McBride has a game-high 19 points (3-of-4 on 3-pointers), while Napheesa Collier has 13 points and three assists.
Liberty forward Jonquel Jones drives past Lynx forward Napheesa Collier iin the second quarter.
Leonie Fiebich in foul trouble
New York’s Leonie Fiebich picked up her fourth foul with 6:47 remaining in the fourth quarter after running into a screen set by Minnesota’s Alanna Smith. Fiebich, who has 17 points and five rebounds, remained in the game.
Lynx take lead late off crazy 3-pointer
Courtney Williams hit a 3-pointer from the top right of the key and the ensuing free throw after being fouled to give the Lynx their first lead of the game with 5.5 seconds remaining, 84-83.
Crazy sequence leads to OT in Game 1
After a wild sequence of events that took less than six seconds of game time but many minutes in real time, the game is headed to overtime, 84-84.
It started with a crazy 3 from Courtney Williams and an inexplicable foul on that 3 from Sabrina Ionescu. Williams stepped to the line, drained the shot and, after numerous possessions on the other end and — what else? — an agonizingly long review, Breanna Stewart stepped to the line and hit one of two free throws to tie the score.
Can the Liberty recover? Or are the Lynx finally in a game-winning groove?
Q4: Liberty 84, Lynx 84
The Lynx went on a 14-2 run to come within three points, 83-80, with 42.1 seconds left. The Lynx’s Napheesa Collier denied Jonquel Jones’ layup with 24.1 seconds remaining, her fifth block of the game. The Liberty secured another offensive rebound, but New York turned the ball over on a shot clock violation with 18.1 seconds remaining. Courtney Williams missed a three-point attempt the Lynx’s next possession, but she got the ball right back after an offensive rebound. Williams took another and was fouled by Sabrina Ionescu on the three-point shot. Williams converted the and-1 to give the Lynx the first lead of the game, 84-83.
What unfolded next was pure chaos. While the Liberty were trying to inbound the ball, Breanna Stewart and Collier both swatted at it as it went out of bounds. A jump ball was called with 3.2 seconds remaining and the Liberty got possession. Williams was called for a jump ball violation, giving New York a sideline inbound. Stewart got the ball but her shot was blocked. New York maintained possession. Stewart drew a foul under the basket with 0.8 remaining. Stewart hit her first free throw, but missed the second one that would have won the game for the Liberty.
Lynx steal Game 1 from Liberty in OT
The Lynx opened overtime with a burst of energy and put up a quick four points, while the Liberty started slow. New York opened the extra quarter 0-for-6 and surrendered three turnovers before Jonquel Jones got the Liberty on the board with 1:38 remaining. Jones got a steal and broke away for a layup to tie it up 93-93 with 28.1 remaining. The Liberty’s Breanna Stewart blocked a layup attempt from the Lynx’s Courtney Williams on the other end of the court. The Lynx secured an offensive rebound and Napheesa Collier knocked down a difficult fade-away jumper to retake the lead, 95-93 with 8.1 seconds remaining. Stewart had a good look at the basket in the final seconds of the game, but missed what would have been the game-winning layup.
The Lynx completed an 18-point comeback, tied for the largest in WNBA history. With the loss, the Liberty move to 0-6 all time in Game 1s of the Finals.
