The 2024 WNBA Finals begin tonight (8:00 p.m.) in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center as the New York Liberty take on the Minnesota Lynx. It is the first time since 1999 and 2000 that the Liberty have qualified for back-to-back Finals appearances. This time, they have homecourt advantage and had time to rest after wrapping up their semifinal series with the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday afternoon with a 76–62 victory.
The Lynx defeated the Connecticut Sun 88-77 at home on Tuesday in Game 5 of the best-of-five series. Game 2 of the Liberty-Lynx best-of-five finals will be in Brooklyn on Sunday (3:00 p.m.) with Game 3 next Wednesday (8:00 p.m.) and Game 4 if necessary on Friday, October 18 (8:00 p.m.) in Minnesota. A decisive Game 5 would be held at the Barclays on October 20.
The Lynx, who won league titles in 2015 and 2017, are 3-1 versus the Liberty this season and finished second overall with a record of 30-10, behind New York’s 32-8 mark. This will be the Liberty’s sixth trip to the WNBA Finals and they enter 0-5 seeking their first WNBA championship. They lost in the league’s 1997 inaugural season, as well in 1999, 2000, 2002 and last season to the Aces.
The Liberty got a measure of revenge versus the Aces on Sunday, but the two-time and 2023 champion weren’t going to lie down on their home court, taking Game 3 of the best-of-five series. Yet, the Liberty were determined to avoid a Game 5. Game 3 — a 95-81 Aces win — was rough for Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, who scored just four points, after topping the Liberty with 24 points and nine rebounds in a 88-84 victory in Game 2. However, she adjusted quickly in Game 4 and was New York’s high scorer with 22.
“Watch film, figure out ways that you can continue to improve and not really be complacent with the way they were defending me,” said Ionescu. “Thankfully, my teammates found me. … We wanted to be our best and get this done.”
After securing a spot in the WNBA Finals, Liberty forward Breanna Stewart said, “This was a tough series, an emotional series for a number of different reasons.” Stewart spoke of her wife, Marta Xargay, whose father passed away one year ago, noting that the win was for Xargay and her late father. As for the Finals, “We’re ready to go,” she said. “[We have] the feeling of not being satisfied.”
Postseason honors continue. Dearica Hamby of the Los Angeles Sparks won the 2024 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award. Named for the late guard who was part of the Houston Comets championship teams in 1997 and ’98, the award is presented to a player who exemplifies sportsmanship, ethical behavior, fair play and integrity. Aces guard Tiffany Hayes was named the 2024 Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year. Hayes announced her retirement from the WNBA in December 2023, but in May the Aces coaxed her back into action.
Caitlin Clark is the 2024 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year. This gives the Indiana Fever its second consecutive Rookie of the Year with Aliyah Boston taking the honor in 2023. Clark headlines the 2024 WNBA All-Rookie Team, which also includes Rickea Jackson of the Sparks, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso of the Chicago Sky, and Leonie Fiebich of the New York Liberty.