NEW YORK — The WNBA Finals are set for an exciting climax with a decisive Game 5 on Sunday evening, as both the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx aim to etch their names into league history.
The Liberty are striving to secure their first championship title after enduring five previous losses in the Finals. As one of the eight inaugural franchises that formed the league in 1997, the Liberty remain the only team from that original group without a championship title to their name. Conversely, a victory for the Lynx would mean their fifth title, allowing them to surpass Seattle and Houston for the most championships in the WNBA’s history.
This series marks the first time since 2019 that the WNBA Finals have extended to a Game 5. Following the league’s transition to a best-of-five format in 2005, there have been seven other instances where the series reached a decisive game, with the home team securing victory in five of those matchups, including the one in 2019.
Cheryl Reeve, head coach of the Lynx, has participated in six of these pivotal games. Her track record includes two as an assistant with the Detroit Shock in 2006 and 2007, where she achieved a split. With Minnesota, she has won two out of three in finals appearances from 2015 to 2017.
Looking ahead to next season, the WNBA has announced a shift to a best-of-seven series format for determining the champion, a move that may change the dynamics of playoff intensity.
The current series has been an exhilarating capstone to a record-setting season for the league. Each of the first four games has been tightly contested, often coming down to the final moments, featuring both an overtime matchup and dramatic last-second shots. This thrilling competition has resulted in record viewership ratings, with the first three games each attracting over a million average viewers, and audience numbers increasing for each subsequent game. Additionally, attendance at the games has been robust, further emphasizing the growing popularity of the league.
New York anticipates a similar response for the final game on Sunday, with tickets becoming highly sought after.