Just when it seemed like the 2024 Women’s National Basketball Association Finals had already run out of twists, Game Four set the stage for yet another one. For the first time in the best-of-five affair, the score was close from opening tip to final buzzer; neither the Lynx nor the Liberty could muster enough momentum to forge an advantage larger than six points. The result was a humdinger that kept the outcome under a cloud of uncertainly until the very end. And only when a desperation heave from Sabrina Ionescu failed to find its mark did a clear winner emerge.
Given how exceptional the Finals has been, perhaps the only regret for fans pertains to its inevitable end. The razor-thin margins separating the Lynx from the Liberty have led to a battle for the ages. Game One went to — and was decided in — overtime under remarkable circumstances. Game Two may have featured a wire-to-wire triumph, but true separation was created only in the last four minutes of the fourth quarter. Game Three closed with a dagger that claims a place among the best in league annals. And Game Four was capped by a foul call that continued to shine the spotlight on the spotty officiating throughout the matches.
Today, everything comes to a head. For all the variables that draw the line between victory and defeat, the players will ultimately wind up being the real deciders of Game Five. Whether or not the Lynx get to overcome their underdog status depends on how well Napheesa Collier, Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, and Bridget Carleton overcome the odds on the road. And whether or not the Liberty are able to finally live up to expectations lies on the capacity of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fiebich, and Ionescu to translate superior talent to collective success.
If there’s anything the Finals has proven, however, it’s that coaching does make a difference. And, the championship pedigree of the Liberty’s Sandy Brondello notwithstanding, there can be no doubting the masterclass the Lynx’s Cheryl Reeve has conducted. From timely substitutions to precise after-timeout plays to strategic post-match statements that work the officiating, the latter has effectively nudged her charges closer to their goals.
Make no mistake. The Liberty begin today’s do-or-die encounter as favorites — which is to say the hardware is Gotham-bound if all goes according to popular prognoses. However, the operative word is “if,” and it makes proceedings much less predictable. The Lynx are invariably better than the sum of their parts, thereby negating whatever individual deficiencies they may have. In short, another classic awaits.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
Classic rubber match
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