The Minnesota Lynx pulled off a dramatic 18-point comeback, defeating the New York Liberty in overtime in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. The 101-99 victory marks one of the largest comebacks in WNBA playoff history, leaving the Liberty reeling after what many are calling a collapse.

Late in the fourth quarter, New York appeared to have control of the game, leading by three points with just over 10 seconds remaining. Courtney Williams of Minnesota missed a crucial shot, but the Lynx crashed the boards, securing an offensive rebound that led to a game-tying three-pointer. Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu then committed a foul on the shot, allowing Williams to sink a go-ahead free throw, giving Minnesota their first lead of the game.

Ionescu’s late foul has been labeled by many as a critical mistake, violating one of basketball’s cardinal defensive rules: never foul a jump shooter, especially from beyond the arc. The Liberty, despite their defensive efforts, allowed Minnesota to tie and take the lead with just 5.5 seconds remaining in regulation.

New York’s star forward Breanna Stewart, last year’s MVP and a key figure in the team’s success, had two chances to secure a win but faltered at the line and again in overtime. With 0.8 seconds left in regulation, Stewart missed a crucial free throw that could have sealed the victory for New York, sending the game into overtime.

The drama continued in overtime, where Stewart missed another opportunity. With the Liberty down two points in the closing seconds, Stewart drove to the basket and missed a wide-open layup that would have tied the game, sealing the Lynx’s win. Her struggles in the final moments led to widespread criticism, with many fans and analysts labeling it a “choke” performance in what should have been her moment to shine.

While Stewart’s late-game misses dominated post-game discussions, some point to the Liberty’s inability to protect their massive lead as the real issue. The Lynx’s relentless defense and persistence kept them in the game, allowing them to complete one of the most improbable comebacks in WNBA playoff history.

With Minnesota stealing home-court advantage in this five-game series, New York now faces the challenge of bouncing back emotionally and physically. Game 2 will be pivotal, as the Liberty aim to recover from this devastating loss. Despite their talent and experience, the emotional toll of such a collapse may weigh heavily as they move forward in their pursuit of a championship.

The pressure is now on New York to avoid falling further behind as the series shifts to Minnesota for the next two games. The Liberty will need to regroup and focus on the fundamentals to reclaim their footing in the finals.