Canadian star Bridget Carleton notched 23 points, while Napheesa Collier contributed 21, propelling the Minnesota Lynx to their first Commissioner’s Cup title with a 94-89 victory against the New York Liberty.
“This win means a lot and reflects our progress this season,” Collier remarked. “We have an amazing group, and our chemistry is incredible. Any night, anyone can step up and score 20 points. Bridget had an outstanding performance. It’s a blast.”
The Lynx became the fourth team to clinch the Cup in its four-year history, continuing the pattern of the host team losing. The Liberty aimed to be the first to secure back-to-back titles after their previous win in Las Vegas.
“It’s always fantastic to win championships,” Collier added. “This is a significant achievement, but we still have more to accomplish. There are many games ahead, and we aim to build on this. We don’t want this to be our peak. While this is amazing, we have bigger goals for the end of the season.”
With the game tied at 60 late in the third quarter, Chatham, Ontario’s Carleton and Cecilia Zandalasini made back-to-back three-pointers, initiating a 10-0 run that carried over into the next period. Breanna Stewart scored nine consecutive points, bringing the Liberty within one at 70-69, but they never regained the lead. Courtney Williams and Carleton scored the next five points for Minnesota, and New York couldn’t mount another serious threat.
“What I’m most proud of is how we responded to every challenge on the road,” said Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve. “That speaks volumes about our team.”
Collier, who also recorded six rebounds and three assists, was named the game’s MVP. Stewart led the Liberty with 24 points, while Sabrina Ionescu added 23.
“I think they executed better than us on both ends of the floor,” Stewart commented. “We couldn’t get anything we wanted. Twenty-one turnovers won’t win you the game.”
Jonquel Jones, a standout for the Liberty all season, struggled, missing all three field-goal attempts and scoring only two free throws with 1:20 remaining.
“JJ has been excellent, but they really disrupted her game tonight,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said.
The game was relocated from the Liberty’s usual Barclays Center home to UBS Arena due to the NBA draft preparations, which impacted the arena’s availability. Despite the change in venue, Liberty fans showed strong support for their team.
New York had built a 47-37 lead midway through the second quarter before the Lynx went on an eight-point run, closing the gap to two. The Liberty held a 50-47 lead at halftime, with Ionescu scoring 18 points and Kayla Thornton 14.
The Liberty welcomed back Courtney Vandersloot, who hadn’t played since June 4 to be with her mother, who recently passed away. Vandersloot entered the game with 3:30 left in the first quarter, finishing with four points.
“Her return shows her dedication and how much she values being part of this team,” Ionescu said. “Her willingness to suit up despite her personal loss is commendable.”
New York also saw Betnijah-Laney Hamilton return to the starting lineup after being sidelined with right knee soreness for the past week, scoring 13 points.
The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup prize pool totals $500,000. Players from Minnesota can earn up to $30,000 each, while those on New York can make $10,000 each. Additionally, every player participating will receive $5,000 in cryptocurrency.
There was also a charitable component, with New York raising $15,000 for Women Creating Change and Minnesota earning $13,500 for Gender Justice. The Lynx received an additional $10,000 for their charity by winning, while the Liberty garnered $5,000 for finishing second.