And back to Brooklyn, we go. The New York Liberty, hoping to win their first title Friday night at Target Center, didn’t. The Minnesota Lynx, trying to take the series to five games, did. In many ways, these two teams mirrored each other; identical three-point shooting, less than one point difference in field goal percentage, and only a three-turnover difference, with New York at 16 and the Lynx at 13. The Liberty’s biggest lead was 6: the Lynx, 5.
Neither team made big runs, and leads never lasted long. The Lynx managed to hold Breanna Stewart to 11 points and Sabrina Ionescu to 10, with Ionescu missing the game’s final shot. The Lynx bench played a few more minutes than the Liberty bench, scoring 10 points to New York’s 9. Except for Game 2, the other games were all decided at the end. Bridget Carleton‘s free throws after an Ionescu foul put the Lynx up 82-80, and that was that.
No Surprises For Either Team Entering Game Five
These two teams share a quality —maturity. Neither team is really surrounded by drama, and there are no real on-court antics that only serve to distract. What we get is 40 minutes of solid basketball, games where talent, not bravado, leads the way. Win or lose, these have been enjoyable and exciting games to watch.
Between now and Sunday there will not be any titanic revelations. Both teams will enter Barclays Center hungry for a win and a championship, the first for New York and the fifth for Minnesota. Does either team have an edge? Other than height for New York, particularly Jonquel Jones, not really.
GOODNIGHT. 💤 pic.twitter.com/BFFsTTlpp2
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) October 19, 2024
It is all going to come down to shooting accuracy and defense, which is what it always comes down to, but there will be precisely zero margin for error. At this point, these teams know each other so well, so what will matter most is endurance, concentration, and total team effort.
There is, of course, one other element – officiating. To say that it has been less than accurate would be putting it mildly. It is and has been a problem all season, and is something that needs to be addressed by the WNBA, and right away.
The Lynx and Liberty: A Winner Will Be Crowned On Sunday
I don’t think you can say enough about the tenacity of these teams. In that regard, they are exemplary, and can very well serve as great role models for younger players and those looking to professional basketball as a legitimate choice. Of course, whatever happens on Sunday, one team wins and one doesn’t. But each team has accomplished so much this season that it would be wrong to overlook the season in totality just because of the outcome of one game.
What Minnesota has accomplished after last year is remarkable. The Liberty have proved themselves all season to be deserving of where they are now. It’s good for the teams, it’s good for the WNBA, and it is good for basketball. See you Sunday.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
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