WNBA Finals Game 4/ Minnesota Lynx vs New York Liberty/ Carleton free throws Lynx win/ WNBA Game 5 preview/ Lynx force Game 5/ Newslooks/ MINNEAPOLIS/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Bridget Carleton’s two free throws with 2 seconds remaining lifted the Minnesota Lynx to an 82-80 victory over the New York Liberty, forcing a decisive Game 5 in the WNBA Finals. Kayla McBride led the Lynx with 19 points, while Jonquel Jones scored 21 for the Liberty. Both teams will meet Sunday in New York to determine the 2024 WNBA champion.
Lynx Edge Liberty to Force Game 5 Quick Looks
- Carleton’s Free Throws: Bridget Carleton calmly sank two free throws with 2 seconds left, breaking an 80-80 tie and giving the Lynx the win.
- Tight Contest: The game featured 14 lead changes and 13 ties, with neither team pulling ahead by more than six points.
- Key Performances: Kayla McBride led Minnesota with 19 points, while Jonquel Jones scored 21 for New York. Breanna Stewart struggled, shooting just 5-of-20 for 11 points.
- Game 5 Set: The Finals head back to New York for Game 5 on Sunday, the first Finals Game 5 since 2019.
Lynx Edge Liberty 82-80 to Push WNBA Finals to Decisive Game 5
Deep Look
The Minnesota Lynx kept their WNBA title hopes alive by securing a nail-biting 82-80 victory over the New York Liberty in Game 4 of the Finals, forcing a decisive Game 5. Bridget Carleton’s two crucial free throws with just 2 seconds left sealed the win for Minnesota in what was a tightly contested game from start to finish. This marks the first WNBA Finals to reach a Game 5 since 2019.
The Lynx came into the game with their season on the line, and their determination was clear from the opening tip. Kayla McBride led the way for Minnesota, scoring 19 points, while Courtney Williams added 15. Minnesota’s defense played a significant role in the victory, managing to contain New York’s stars, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, both of whom struggled with their shooting. Stewart finished with just 11 points on 5-of-20 shooting, while Ionescu hit only 5 of her 16 attempts, including a missed potential game-winning shot at the buzzer.
The game was a close contest throughout, with 14 lead changes and 13 ties. Both teams had their chances to take control, but neither could build a significant lead. Minnesota managed to edge ahead late in the game when Carleton hit a go-ahead three-pointer, giving the Lynx a 77-72 advantage with just over three minutes remaining. However, New York quickly responded, with Jonquel Jones completing a three-point play to tie the game at 80 with just over a minute left.
With the score tied at 80 and the clock winding down, Minnesota held for the last shot. Courtney Williams missed a jumper, but Carleton grabbed the rebound and was fouled by Ionescu, setting up the game-winning free throws. Carleton calmly knocked down both shots to secure the victory.
Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, no stranger to winner-take-all games, expressed pride in her team’s resilience, saying, “I’m thrilled that this group gets to experience a Game 5.” Minnesota has a chance to capture its record fifth WNBA title, which would surpass the four championships won by the Houston Comets and Seattle Storm.
For the Liberty, it was a missed opportunity to close out the series at home, and they will now look to bounce back in front of their fans for Game 5. Jonquel Jones, who led New York with 21 points, acknowledged the difficulty of the loss but remained optimistic, saying, “We know we have the crowd behind us.”
Looking ahead to Game 5, the Liberty will need stronger performances from their star players, particularly Stewart and Ionescu, who have carried the team throughout the postseason. Meanwhile, the Lynx will aim to build on their defensive effort and clutch shooting as they seek their first WNBA title since 2017.
