The tension and suspense were there in this decisive Game 5, won last night after overtime by the New York Liberty against the Minnesota Lynx (67-62). Alongside Sabrina Ionescuwho finished with a cataclysmic 1/19 shooting, Breanna Stewart also suffered with a very small 4/15…
But despite the slump of its leaders, New York was able to rely on other assets to (finally) win the first title in its history after losing five times in the final! Suffice to say that the outcome was experienced as a huge relief by the former Seattle Storm player.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. It's an incomparable feeling.”said Breanna Stewart, beaten by Las Vegas in the final last year. “Minnesota gave us a hard time in this series. The fans have been amazing everywhere we have been. Bringing a title to New York, the first in franchise history, is an incredible feeling. I look forward to continuing to celebrate with the city. It’s going to be crazy.”
A mind of steel in the free throw
Even though her shooting evening was complicated, Breanna Stewart still contributed to Liberty's success with 15 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. A performance which testifies to a mentality of steel.
“I came in with a game plan: “no matter what happens.” I'm going to defend, get rebounds, do the little things and I'll stay aggressive. I'll take my shots, and if they don't fall in, they don't fall in. But I'm not going to let that affect how I do the rest.”, she added.
We will especially remember her two shots which allowed her to equalize at 60-60 five seconds from the end of the fourth quarter to force an overtime, she who had missed two in similar conditions in the lost Game 1. She then hit the nail on the head at the end of overtime by scoring the last two shots of the victory.
“Before I took the free throws (in the fourth quarter), I had just missed two. I was like, 'No, I can't do it again, not again.' With assistant Olaf Lange, we talked about the attitude of the python, who knows when it is his moment to attack. At that moment, that’s all I thought about, being a python.”
A python which therefore went through a mouse hole to win its third WNBA championship title after 2018 and 2020, leaving the Finals MVP trophy to Jonquel Jones. But the important thing is elsewhere.
