The New York Liberty ended a decades-long championship drought in a historic five-game battle
In short: After years of near-misses, the New York Liberty secured their first WNBA title in a dramatic series against the Minnesota Lynx. Beyond the box scores, the 2024 Finals marked a massive shift in viewership and a controversial end to the league's best-of-five era.
The 2024 WNBA Finals featured a clash between the top two seeds: the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx. The Liberty, who finished the regular season with a 32–8 record, entered the series with two extra days of rest. The series was a grueling five-game marathon, concluding with a victory for New York that secured their first championship in franchise history and their sixth overall finals appearance.
The competition was defined by extreme statistical swings and defensive dominance. In Game 1, the Lynx achieved a rare feat, overcoming a 15+ point deficit in the final five minutes to win in overtime. However, the Liberty's interior presence was undeniable; Jonquel Jones, named Finals MVP, anchored a rebounding advantage that New York maintained in nearly every game of the series. While the Lynx found success in the paint and through turnovers, the Liberty utilized their depth and rebounding to control the tempo.
The series concluded under a cloud of officiating controversy. A foul call on Minnesota's Alanna Smith with 5.2 seconds remaining in Game 5 allowed Breanna Stewart to hit free throws that forced overtime, where the Liberty eventually won by five points. The officiating drew intense criticism from players like LeBron James and Damian Lillard, with some media figures suggesting the calls would 'leave a stain' on the series. This victory also marked the first professional basketball championship for a New York area team since the 1976 ABA New York Nets.
As the league evolves, the 2024 Finals stand as a transitional moment. It was the final championship series to utilize the best-of-five format, as the WNBA officially expanded to a best-of-seven structure for the 2025 season.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2024 WNBA Finals
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-2024-wnba-finals.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
