IT WAS an epic championship series, and even until the final moments of a do-or-die duel, the battle was fierce.

When the smoke cleared, it was the New York Liberty who hoisted the championship trophy, ending years and years of futility.

New York won its first-ever WNBA title after it pulled off a 67-62 overtime thriller over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of their best-of-five title duel on Monday (Philippine time), October 20.

Before a roaring home crowd, the Liberty won the series, 3-2, pocketing a championship trophy after failing to do so in their five previous finals appearances.

New York came into the series as the lone original WNBA franchise without a championship, and was still reeling from a Finals loss to the Las Vegas Aces last year.

The Liberty looked headed for another heartbreak when the Lynx led by as many as nine points in the first quarter and took a seven-point lead at the half. New York battled back in the third period, stealing the lead by outscoring Minnesota, 20-10.

Breanna Stewart saved Liberty from the jaws of defeat when she sank two free throws with five seconds left in regulation that tied the contest at 60-all.

Kayla McBride couldn’t win it for the Lynx when she missed a three-pointer, sending the match into a five-minute extension. The overtime period started with Leonie Fiebich sinking a three-pointer and the Liberty wouldn’t trail again after taking a 63-60 lead.

Stewart and fellow top gun Sabrina Ionescu struggled for the Liberty with the latter shooting just 4-of-15 from the field and the former going just 1-of-19.

Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fiebich, and Nyara Sabally were there to save the day for New York. Jones scored 17 points and went on to win the Finals MVP award after averaging 17.8 points a game in the series.

Fiebich and Sabally chipped in 13 markers apiece.

Stewart scored just 13 points although he had 15 rebounds. Ionescu managed just five points but made up for her meager scoring by tallying eight assists and seven boards.

Napheesa Collier finished with a game-high 22 points and McBride pitched in 21 markers for the Lynx, who failed in their own bid to win a first-ever WNBA crown.(CCM)

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• # 2024 WNBA
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• #Women’s Basketball
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