2024 WNBA Season: Playoffs

[Blue Huskie]

Well, it certainly was a competitive game, but definitely not a very well played game. At times, the Liberty looked like they were playing with their pants on fire. Awful shooting by both teams, lots of turnovers and the refs swallowed their whistles for much of the game.

Congratulations to the Liberty on their 1st championship in the franchise’s 28 year history. Hard to imagine that NY could win with Sabrina & Stewie going a combined 5/34.

True but I think with each passing year of increased physicality the less "pretty" it's going to be. Same with the college game. I knew I would feel bad for whoever lost in such a hotly contested series. The most exciting finals WNBA series I've seen, IF far from the best played. Congrats to NY on #1. Both teams played so hard. Napheesa looked fabulous. Happy that Stewie was able to make those last 4 FT's. She would have been crushed if she missed those.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Lynx need to get a more physical PG if this is the physicality allowed moving forward. Williams is known for a high motor, but she looked gassed at times which I found surprising. Add some height with athleticism closer to the basket and they should have no problem getting back next year. It would also extend Collier's career. She was battling considering she was undersized..

 

[bballnut90]

Phee has the most heart breaking losses in women's basketball history

Similarly, Breanna Stewart's teams have been the thorn in Kayla McBride's entire career:
2013: Lost to Stewart's team in the Final Four. ND likely cruises to the title if they beat UCONN that game.
2014: Lost to Stewart's team in the title game
2020: Lost to Stewart's team in the finals 3-0
2024: Lost to Stewart's team in the finals 3-2

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Similarly, Breanna Stewart's teams have been the thorn in Kayla McBride's entire career:
2013: Lost to Stewart's team in the Final Four. ND likely cruises to the title if they beat UCONN that game.
2014: Lost to Stewart's team in the title game
2020: Lost to Stewart's team in the finals 3-0
2024: Lost to Stewart's team in the finals 3-2

McBride is one of my favorite ND players. Did I just admit that? No, but really, she is tough as nails and she needed to be in this series. NY beat her up on her cuts pretty good in this game.

 

[nickp91]

Dolan selling the Liberty is the best thing that has ever happened to this franchise

 

[maccca3232]

Brondello becomes the 7th coach to win multiple WNBA titles.

The rub was she didn't develop players including Alanna Smith while with Phoenix however sophomore Nyara Sabally was the X factor for Game 5 and rookie Leonie Fiebich was the X factor in the playoffs and broke the record for most rookie points in WNBA finals.

 

[donalddoowop]

Lynx need to get a more physical PG if this is the physicality allowed moving forward. Williams is known for a high motor, but she looked gassed at times which I found surprising. Add some height with athleticism closer to the basket and they should have no problem getting back next year. It would also extend Collier's career. She was battling considering she was undersized..

The Lynx need to get players better than Hines-Allen and Heidemann for offense. Williams would be okay, but she shows off to the crowd too much and pats the ball too much. Save some of that energy for actual playing time. Plus, she and Smith make turnovers at critical times, at least during the playoffs.

 

[JellyBean]

Heartbreaking loss for my beloved Lynx. The Vikings lose and now this. But Hats off to New York on winning what was a pretty solid basketball series and on winning their first WNBA title. Definitely an entertaining one. The cool part, The New York Liberty winning the title in the Mecca of Basketball. The grand stage of the basketball world. They are going to be LEGENDS! Congrats, Stewie (Native New Yorker) and the rest of the Liberty on winning the title.

 

[ConnManFan]

You know who was robbed? Ionescu and Stewwie, that's who. How can you possibly play like they played and enjoy the win or the title?

 

[JellyBean]

Brondello becomes the 7th coach to win multiple WNBA titles.

The rub was she didn't development players including Alanna Smith while with Phoenix however sophomore Nyara Sabally was the X factor for Game 5 and rookie Leonie Fiebich was the X factor in the playoffs and broke the record for most rookie points in WNBA finals.

I am happy for Coach Brondello. Folks were saying she "Can't coach" or "Doesn't know how to win games" blah, blah, blah. She guided the Liberty to the title. She has been in the W for a decade if not longer. She is a winner and a solild coach. Well done, Coach B.

 

[moosefan]

I'm happy for JJ man. She's been incredibly slept on as an MVP and by the media as a whole. I'm so glad she got her flowers as a finals MVP!!! Totally deserved considering how atrocious Sab and Stewie were tonight. Lowkey though, if they allowed finals MVPs to go to anybody, I would've given it to Phee. She was PHEEnomenal . But her team let her down. CONGRATS TO THE LIBERTY!!!!

 

[moosefan]

Wow you are right lol

And this is correct :/. She'll get em next year tho. I can feel it.

 

[BigTenGuy]

Yep. You can say both teams are playing really good defense, but there is absolutely no freedom of movement for offensive players. This is really hard to watch.

So true. The WNBA really needs to rethink how the league is officiated and its games are played. Choosing “physicality” over better basketball severely limits the growth potential of the W.

 

[nwhoopfan]

So true. The WNBA really needs to rethink how the league is officiated and its games are played. Choosing “physicality” over better basketball severely limits the growth potential of the W.

I keep thinking the WNBA is about where the NBA was in around the mid 90s when it became unwatchable. When you could see the Knicks and Heat having a wrestling/boxing match with an occasional basket and scores were usually in the 80s if not 70s. That would make the WNBA almost 30 years out of date. Shameful.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Well, I'm sticking with my theory you don't want to win the Commissioner's Cup (other than the nice little cash bonus). The winning team has gone on to be the league Champs only once in 4 years.

 

[Stagnant]

Minnesota was robbed.

 

[jonson]

Oof, Williams has been almost as brutal as Ionescu tonight. Not a good game for lead guards.


Sabally rescued the Liberty tonight. Mostly in Q3, but huge play just now in OT.

Just a bit of information about Nyara for those who might not know much about her. The summer before her freshman year at Oregon the German National Team coach played her in a FIBA tournament even after she had injured her knee--and with a predictable result: she blew out the knee entirely and even after two years on the sidelines, and more than one surgery, I believe, couldn't stay on the court with any consistency throughout her time at Oregon. And that, of course, had a major impact on her development. It's really only now that she's beginning to be the player she was on the way to being before the injury: different than her sister, certainly, but a player with a considerable upside. And the Sabally''s are also the reason Fiebich is on the team.

 

[yhun89]

Love how Cathy wore a Liberty dress to the game. They ain’t even trying to hide it.

That last call is one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. Love Stewart but she took a whole journey on that last shot attempt.

 

[cancontent]

Lynx need to get a more physical PG if this is the physicality allowed moving forward. Williams is known for a high motor, but she looked gassed at times which I found surprising. Add some height with athleticism closer to the basket and they should have no problem getting back next year. It would also extend Collier's career. She was battling considering she was undersized..

Could it also be a factor of playing two rounds series that went to Game 5 back to back? Personally I thought both teams seemed to be running ragged after competing as hard as they have the entire series.

 

[cancontent]

You know who was robbed? Ionescu and Stewwie, that's who. How can you possibly play like they played and enjoy the win or the title?

Sure Stewart didn't play to the level of what fans may be used to seeing, but she played her tail off. She had an impact in all of their wins and this team wouldn't have won had she not been on the roster.

Ionescu didn't have her best, but she did what all great players do. Find ways to contribute and help the team. She came through with clutch shots when NY needed it. No different than Eli Manning during his days with the Giants. It wasn't always pretty but he won 2 Superbowls because he made the plays they needed when it counted.

 

[GoUconn7961]

You know who was robbed? Ionescu and Stewwie, that's who. How can you possibly play like they played and enjoy the win or the title?

It's a series, not just one game. Their play in the Series allowed the Liberty to reach game 5. A subpar game doesn't mean they're less deserving or shouldn't celebrate.

That being said - a hearty congratulations to the Liberty (AND Stewie)!! Phee, you'll get it next year. #UConn

 

[cancontent]

It's a series, not just one game. Their play in the Series allowed the Liberty to reach game 5. A subpar game doesn't mean they're less deserving or shouldn't celebrate.

That being said - a hearty congratulations to the Liberty (AND Stewie)!! Phee, you'll get it next year. #UConn

Agreed. And for Ionescu, it's even more special considering her Oregon team missed out on a chance to compete for a national title while she was at college. She's damn well entitled to celebrate any way she wants. Heck if she goes on a party run like Ovechkin did when Washington won the Stanley Cup, I wouldn't blame her.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Could it also be a factor of playing two rounds series that went to Game 5 back to back? Personally I thought both teams seemed to be running ragged after competing as hard as they have the entire series.

Yea...sure it was, but she played less minutes than any Lynx starter. Heidelman was good, but the offensive chemistry just isn't the same as when Williams is in. It's not as fluid. Both teams wore the heck out of their starters. NY finally adjusted in game 5 and played Thornton and Sabally who clearly had fresher legs. Thornton just wore down everyone with her physicality. She almost fouled out in 20 minutes of play. lol Lynx need a bench that they feel comfortable stepping in.

 

[cancontent]

Could it also be a factor of playing two rounds series that went to Game 5 back to back? Personally I thought both teams seemed to be running ragged after competing as hard as they have the entire series.

Tripped across this on Twitter from someone who reports on Canadian basketball scene. Holy cow.

 

[cancontent]

Yea...sure it was, but she played less minutes than any Lynx starter. Heidelman was good, but the offensive chemistry just isn't the same as when Williams is in. It's not as fluid. Both teams wore the heck out of their starters. NY finally adjusted in game 5 and played Thornton and Sabally who clearly had fresher legs. Thornton just wore down everyone with her physicality. She almost fouled out in 20 minutes of play. lol Lynx need a bench that they feel comfortable stepping in.

So when you said physical, you were referring to endurance? Not sure how playing more minutes equates to physicality. I see it more as a conditioning situation, but both could go hand in hand depending on how one looks at it.