LYNX DIG THE DEEPEST

LYNX 82

LIBERTY 80

The 2024 WNBA Finals are already assured of being remembered as one of the most dramatic championship series ever, worthy of any sport.

Game 1 was an unbelievable OT epic won by the Lynx. The Liberty pulled away late in game 2, then won with a last second dagger 3 in game 3.

Game 4 was another classic, and the Lynx dug deep and forced what, odds are, will be an epic game 5 on Sunday back in New York.

After what happened at the end of game 3, who knew what the hangover might be. Would that be the final death blow that the Lynx could not overcome?

No. Because these Lynx, despite some at times glaring shortcomings, are the grittiest, toughest team this franchise has ever produced.

Unlike the 1st 3 games, game 4 had no big runs. Neither team ever led by more than 6 for the whole game. It was tied after 1. The Lynx held 1 point leads at the half and after 3.

There were a few points the Liberty seemed to be revving up for a run, only for the Lynx to nip it in the bud. The Lynx got a few multi-possession leads, only for the Liberty to have the answer every time.

You would think that in order to stave off elimination, the Lynx would have needed a massive game from Napheesa Collier. But this stirring win was a true team effort.

It took Kayla McBride's big shots. It took a couple.big threes and fantastic defense by Alanna Smith. It took Courtney Williams doing her dog thing. It took big moments from the resurgent Bridget Carleton. And it took key bench minutes from Ceci and DORKA!

Still, there we were in the waning minutes, again sweating it out. A McBuckets 3 gave the Lynx a 5 point lead, but that soon vanished (aided by an atrocious foul call on Collier).

This could have been the moment the season ended, and the Liberty took what they feel is pre-ordained. But the Lynx leaned on what got them here: team defense.

In an incredible sequence, the Liberty had THREE shots, two from Breanna Stewart, but the possession ended in a shot clock violation. This set the Lynx up to take the final shot of the game.

The ball was in Williams' hands, and yeah, she did some of her hero ball thing. She ticked off most of the clock, then took a jumper that missed. But there is Carleton, who quickly tried to do a put back and got fouled with 2 seconds left.

No pressure, BC. Only the biggest moment of your career. And she cooly sank both free throws to put the Lynx ahead. What a cool thing for a player who was a bench player just a year ago. 

But 2 seconds can be a lifetime. The inbound went to Sabrina Ionescu, whose dagger 3 in the last game ran through everyone's head. She heaved one up again, but this time it was off the mark, and so one of the most unexpectedly great seasons in Minnesota sports history lives on for one more game.

The Lynx have 4 banners, but those teams were always loaded, and were always the favorites. This is different. This time, the loaded favorites are on the other side, and the Lynx are giving them everything they've got.

If they can pull this thing off on Sunday, in a hostile environment where they again are big underdogs, it would be the greatest moment in the history of the franchise.