By John “Woods” Armwood III
The New York Liberty sought a goal at the beginning of the season, and they completed that goal Sunday night. The Liberty did it, in a hard-fought series against the Minnesota Lynx, 67-62, they brought NewYork their first WNBA Championship in history. The Liberty led by future Hall of Famer Breanna Stewart and superstar guard Sabrina Ionescu have forever etched their names in history!
“I’ve been manifesting this moment for a while, There’s no feeling like it,” Stewart said. “Credit to Minnesota, they gave us a tough series. The fans have been amazing everywhere we’ve gone. To bring a championship to New York, the first ever in franchise history, it’s an incredible feeling. I can’t wait to continue to celebrate with the city. It’s going to be bonkers.”
Sadly, these women's unbelievable performances and efforts were overshadowed by Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve's statements after the game. In any tightly contested matchup, the determining factor of the game is usually determined within the details of the game. In this game, the referees allowed both teams to be more physical than normal, and both teams were experiencing difficulty near the basket.
"At the other end when they challenged it, if we would have turned that clip in, they would have told us that this was marginal contact, no foul. Guaranteed. Guaranteed," Reeve said. "So, when you review, there should be the same parameters that you're reviewing with, but the three people on the game need a fourth party to let them know. Because that decided the game."
Breakdown of the Championship
Early in the game, the Liberty wasn’t as aggressive and it showed as they were outplayed and scored, 19-10. The Lynx were relentlessly cutting and getting easy layups in the paint, eventually the Liberty began to make adjustments and send over help defense much quicker. They struggled to get stops and get tier offense in any type of rhythm, however they found success once the Liberty went big. This means they primarily played with more forwards and centers in their lineup and not as many guards.
One of the factors that changed the game was Nyara Sybally affecting the game in that big lineup. Not only did Sybally bring an overwhelming surge of energy, but her aggression and relentless rebounding changed the momentum of the game. She not only assisted in making 2024 Finals MVP Jonquel Jones easier but she also made plays on defense when they desperately needed a momentum boost. Throughout the season, she didn’t play much but with the opportunities she was presented, she made the most out of it. Eventually, this led to this moment and she embraced and rose to the occasion.
“Throughout the whole season, there's been unwavering support from Sandy and my teammates -- this organization has always believed in me,” Sybally stated. “... they drafted me knowing I had to sit out a year. … Every time I'm on the floor, my teammates have my back.”
I will forever remember the “Sa-ba-lly” chants ringing out postgame — what a moment for Nyara. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/0DUio3ocdD
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) October 22, 2024
https://x.com/MylesEhrlich/status/1848791649520128330
Jonquel Jones Cements Her Legacy
The Liberty while having the most talented team in all of the WNBA, couldn’t have been successful without the superstar center. Jones proved to be the determining factor in multiple series throughout the playoffs but also the overall season. Her unique size, length, and strength allowed multiple mismatches that were easy to exploit. Not to mention, Jones shooting ability to help stretch the floor has given the Liberty an advantage many other teams do
“I could never dream of this. You know how many times I’ve been denied. It was delayed. I am so happy to do it here,” Jones said.
What’s Next for the Liberty?
This Thursday, Oct. 24, the New York Liberty will celebrate its first WNBA Championship in franchise history with a ticker tape parade through New York City. The parade will tip off at 10 a.m. from Battery Park and proceed north along Broadway to City Hall, through what is known as the “Canyon of Heroes.” Following the parade, there will be a ceremony at City Hall honoring the New York Liberty at noon. Additionally, on Thursday, the Liberty will host a celebration with fans at Barclays Center in Brooklyn at 7 p.m.
“Congratulations to the Liberty on their first championship,” Reeve said. “It took them 28 years, congrats to them. We were that close to our fifth, it just didn’t happen.”