The decisive showdown between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals 2024 is not only a top-tier competition but also a historic milestone, where one of these two teams will etch their name into the league’s record books. Held in Brooklyn before thousands of cheering fans, Game 5 promises to create an unforgettable moment in this dramatic season.
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Liberty and Lynx: The Race for Glory
With the WNBA 2024 season seeing tremendous growth in both gameplay quality and fan engagement, the fact that the championship comes down to one final game makes this Game 5 the focal point of the sports world. Liberty and Lynx are not only competing for the championship but also for a spot in history. If Liberty wins, it will mark their first-ever WNBA title. On the other hand, if Lynx emerges victorious, they will become the first team in WNBA history to claim five championships.
Tonight’s game carries not only athletic competition but also significant historical and emotional weight. Liberty, bolstered by their passionate hometown crowd, holds the home-court advantage at Brooklyn, while Lynx brings the experience of being a team that has already tasted multiple championship victories.
Finals Drama: Tension Until the Final Moments
This season has been notable not just for spectacular plays but also for dramatic comebacks. In Game 1, the Minnesota Lynx pulled off a stunning comeback from an 18-point deficit, forcing overtime and clinching the victory with a game-winning jump shot by Napheesa Collier.
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In Game 2, Liberty responded strongly by staving off a Lynx rally in the fourth quarter, maintaining a two-point lead after their opponents had narrowed the gap, and tying the series at 1-1.
Game 3 became one of the most unforgettable matchups, as New York Liberty stunned Minnesota with a long-range three-pointer from Sabrina Ionescu at the logo, leaving just one second on the clock to secure the win.
In Game 4, the Lynx struck back with a last-second win of their own when Bridget Carleton sank a game-winning free throw with only two seconds left, pushing the series to a thrilling Game 5.
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This marks the first Game 5 in the WNBA Finals in five years. Since the league adopted the best-of-five format in 2005, only seven series have reached a fifth game. With New York Liberty enjoying home-court advantage, history shows that in the previous seven instances, the home team won five times, including the most recent one in 2019. However, Minnesota Lynx has its own momentum, becoming only the eighth team to force a Game 5 after trailing 2-1 in the series. Of the seven teams that previously managed this feat, four went on to win the championship.
Minnesota has experience on its side, having pulled off this feat in 2017 when they defeated the Los Angeles Sparks to claim their fourth championship in seven seasons. However, the only team in WNBA history to win Game 4 at home and Game 5 on the road to clinch a title was the Phoenix Mercury in 2007. With the stakes at their highest, the legacy of both teams hangs in the balance.
Milestones to Watch in the NBA Season
While the WNBA captures attention with its thrilling Finals series, the NBA is also gearing up for the start of its 2024-25 season. Several significant milestones are on the horizon for the league’s superstars.
- Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns’ star, currently ranks eighth on the all-time scoring list with 28,924 points. He only needs 1,076 points to become the eighth player in NBA history to surpass 30,000 career points, a remarkable achievement.
- LeBron James, with 1,492 career games, is rapidly approaching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time games played list. If LeBron appears in 69 games this season, he will surpass Kareem to rank second in NBA history for the most games played.
- Chris Paul, with 11,894 career assists, is only 198 assists away from passing Jason Kidd to become second all-time in assists. This season offers Paul the opportunity to make history.
Bright Young Stars Poised to Lead the MVP Race
In addition to veteran milestones, the NBA 2024-25 season promises a breakout year for several rising stars, including Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Each of these players has a legitimate shot at leading the race for MVP honors this season.
- Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks) has already been named to the All-NBA team five times by the age of 25, placing him in elite company with only two other players, Kevin Durant and Tim Duncan, achieving the same feat at a similar age. In the 2024 Playoffs, Doncic became the first player in NBA history to record 450+ points, 150+ rebounds, 150+ assists, and 50+ three-pointers in a single postseason.
- Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) is only 23 years old and already led the Timberwolves to their first playoff series victory since 2004. Edwards’ star is on the rise, with career-best averages in points, assists, and shooting percentage last season.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) finished as the runner-up in the MVP race last year and is poised for an even stronger showing. He led OKC in points, assists, and steals last season, and with new additions like Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to the Thunder’s lineup, they’re ready for another stellar season.
“Raising 18” – Celtics’ Championship Journey
Alongside the buildup to the NBA season, fans can relive the Boston Celtics’ historic 2023-24 championship run through the nine-part documentary series, “Raising 18,” which premiered exclusively on the NBA App. Narrated by Al Horford, the series offers an inside look at the Celtics’ journey from training camp to their record-breaking 18th NBA title.
From the early days of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in Boston to the 2023 training camp, and culminating in the confetti-filled celebration at TD Garden, this documentary allows fans to experience the entire championship journey through the eyes of the players, coaches, and staff who lived it.
