In a heart-stopping finish, the Minnesota Lynx kept their championship aspirations alive with a nail-biting 82-80 victory over the New York Liberty in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals. With the win, the Lynx forced a decisive Game 5, setting the stage for an epic conclusion to this scintillating series.
Carleton’s Clutch Free Throws Seal the Deal
With just two seconds remaining on the clock and the Lynx clinging to a precarious two-point lead, forward Bridget Carleton stepped to the free throw line with the weight of her team’s season on her shoulders. In a moment that will be etched in WNBA lore, Carleton calmly sank both free throws, effectively sealing the victory for Minnesota and sending the series back to New York for a winner-take-all showdown.
“I just tried to stay focused and trust my routine,” Carleton said of her clutch free throws. “I knew how important those shots were, and I didn’t want to let my teammates down.”
– Bridget Carleton, Minnesota Lynx forward
McBride, Williams Lead the Way
Kayla McBride paced the Lynx with a game-high 19 points, while Courtney Williams added 15 points in the victory. The duo’s scoring punch helped offset tough shooting nights from New York’s star tandem of Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, who were hounded by Minnesota’s tenacious defense throughout the contest.
The Lynx’s suffocating defensive effort was a key factor in the outcome, as they held the Liberty to just 38.6 percent shooting from the field and forced 14 turnovers. This defensive intensity has been a hallmark of Minnesota’s playoff run, and they will need to maintain that level of energy and focus if they hope to emerge victorious in Game 5.
Winner-Take-All Game 5 Looms
With the series now tied at two games apiece, the stage is set for a monumental Game 5 at New York’s Barclays Center. This will mark the first time the WNBA Finals have gone to a decisive fifth game since 2019, when the Washington Mystics topped the Connecticut Sun to claim the championship.
“Last 40 minutes of the season could be anywhere, we’re going to be out there going to war and I’m pumped,” said Kayla McBride, expressing her excitement for the upcoming winner-take-all showdown.
– Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx guard
As both teams prepare for this momentous clash, fans can expect an intense, hard-fought battle between two evenly matched squads. The Liberty will look to ride the energy of their home crowd and the scoring prowess of Stewart and Ionescu, while the Lynx will rely on their defensive tenacity and balanced scoring attack to bring home the championship.
No matter the outcome, Game 5 promises to be a thrilling conclusion to an already memorable WNBA Finals series. With legacies on the line and the championship trophy within reach, both the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty will leave it all on the court in their quest for basketball glory.
