NEW YORK — Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx, both of whom finished the regular season in second place, found themselves on the brink of securing first place when the stakes were highest.

The Lynx were within seconds of capturing a historic fifth WNBA championship, with Collier in contention for the Finals MVP following her impressive performance late in regulation that had put her team ahead in the closing moments.

However, they could not maintain their lead.

The New York Liberty staged a comeback, winning 67-62 in overtime, which thwarted the Lynx’s attempt at what would have been a record-setting fifth championship title.

Collier, who was second to the unanimous MVP A’ja Wilson during the regular season, had to watch the final moments unfold from the sidelines after fouling out just minutes before, in a game where Minnesota seemed destined for victory.

The Lynx had a stronghold in the first half, but found themselves trailing 56-52 after Sabrina Ionescu’s pivotal 3-pointer with just over three minutes left. Yet, Collier shook off her early struggles and regained her momentum, scoring the next three baskets for Minnesota, ultimately giving them a 60-58 advantage with just over a minute remaining.

The Lynx, however, would not find the basket again until the Liberty scored the subsequent seven points. New York tied the game with free throws from Stewart in the final moments of regulation and took a commanding 65-60 lead during overtime.

Collier concluded the game with 22 points and seven rebounds, demonstrating her defensive prowess as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. She played nearly the entire 45-minute game, missing only 35 seconds, primarily spending that time on the bench due to her foul that stopped the clock with 13 seconds left in overtime.

This season was undoubtedly remarkable for the forward, who averaged 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in her sixth year post-UConn. She also earned a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team and led the Lynx to a franchise-record 30 victories, securing the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

Had the climax of Game 5 concluded differently, Collier might have added a WNBA Finals MVP award to her accolades, placing her alongside some of the Lynx’s legendary players.

Sylvia Fowles won the Finals MVP in 2015 and 2017 after their last two championship wins, while Seimone Augustus, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame just last week, clinched the title in 2011. Maya Moore was awarded the honor two years later.