MINNEAPOLIS — Sabrina Ionescu’s electrifying shot for the New York Liberty with just a second remaining in Game 3 on Wednesday night has already etched its place as one of the most memorable moments in WNBA Finals history.

This remarkable play unfolded 25 years after another legendary moment in basketball, when Teresa Weatherspoon made a halfcourt shot as time expired to tie the Liberty’s playoff series against the Houston Comets.

The Minnesota Lynx, too, have been part of memorable buzzer-beaters in the Finals, experiencing both triumph and heartbreak through these nail-biting conclusions.

Let’s revisit five of the most significant buzzer-beater moments in WNBA Finals history, presented here in chronological order:

In Game 2 of the 1999 series between the New York Liberty and the Houston Comets, Weatherspoon found herself in a critical situation. With just 2.4 seconds on the clock and the Liberty trailing 67-65, she received the inbounds pass and sprinted to halfcourt before launching a shot that banked in just as the buzzer sounded, leveling the series. However, the Liberty faced disappointment less than a day later, losing to the Comets.

Fast forwarding to Game 3 of the 2015 Finals between the Minnesota Lynx and the Indiana Fever, Maya Moore had yet to replicate a buzzer-beating shot since her days in AAU basketball. With the score tied at 77, Moore caught the ball at the top of the key with just 1.7 seconds remaining. She faked her initial shot, took a quick dribble to the right, and nailed a 3-pointer that gave the Lynx a critical 2-1 series advantage, ultimately leading them to victory in five games.

Next, in Game 1 of the 2016 Finals featuring the Los Angeles Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx, Alana Beard emerged as an unexpected hero. She scored the game-winner, sinking a jumper in the corner as the clock hit zero, thus giving the Sparks a 1-0 lead in the series. This marked a significant year as the WNBA altered its playoff format, allowing the top eight teams from the regular season to compete, regardless of conference.

Continuing in 2016, Game 5 involved an intense back-and-forth between the Sparks and the Lynx. Nneka Ogwumike became the hero for Los Angeles with her last-second shot. In a game filled with 23 lead changes and 11 ties, she secured an offensive rebound and, despite having her initial shot blocked, converted a fadeaway jumper that clinched the championship with a narrow 77-76 victory.

In the recent Game 3 of the 2024 series between New York and Minnesota, the Liberty, trailing by 15 points earlier, managed to tie the game at 77. Ionescu seized the moment, gathering the ball around halfcourt. With the clock winding down, she expertly dribbled and stepped back in front of the logo, delivering a stunning 28-foot shot that swished in as time expired. This incredible finish allowed New York to seize a 2-1 series lead, leaving Minnesota without a shot attempt as the game concluded.