Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx, both ranked No. 2 in the regular season, were close to becoming No. 1 when it really counted.
The Lynx were just seconds away from winning their fifth WNBA championship, with Collier possibly on track to earn the WNBA Finals MVP award after a strong finish that put her team ahead in the last minute.
However, they couldn’t maintain their lead.
The New York Liberty came back to win 67-62 in overtime, stopping the Lynx from achieving what would have been a record fifth championship.
Collier, who was the runner-up to unanimous MVP A’ja Wilson during the regular season, scored 22 points but had to watch the closing moments from the bench after fouling out in a game Minnesota seemed ready to win just minutes earlier.
Like coach Cheryl Reeve, who claimed the game was “stolen” from the Lynx, Collier felt frustrated with the officiating and believed she was held at times, though she acknowledged the Liberty for making good adjustments.
“They turned up the pressure,” she said. “It’s the end of the game. Of course we are both trying to win. They turned up the pressure, and we got a couple turnovers.”
The Lynx had a strong first half but found themselves trailing 56-52 after Sabrina Ionescu hit a 3-pointer with 3:10 left. Then Collier, who started off strong, began scoring again. She made Minnesota’s next three baskets, including a drive past Breanna Stewart that put the Lynx ahead 60-58 with 1:04 remaining.
But Minnesota wouldn’t score again until New York had put up the next seven points, tying the game with Stewart’s free throws with 5.2 seconds left and then taking the lead 65-60 in overtime.
Collier ended the game with seven rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. The WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year played almost the entire 45-minute game, missing just 35 seconds, mostly due to a foul that stopped the clock with 13 seconds remaining in OT.
It was clearly an outstanding season for the forward, who averaged 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in her sixth year after playing at UConn. She also won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team and helped the Lynx achieve a franchise-record 30 wins and secure the No. 2 seed.
However, if Game 5 had gone differently, she might have also earned a WNBA Finals MVP trophy, joining other elite Lynx players from the past who have received the honor.
Sylvia Fowles won it in 2015 and 2017 after the Lynx’s last two championships. Seimone Augustus, who was honored last week in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, won it in 2011, and Maya Moore did so two years later.
The Lynx believe Collier could achieve similar honors in the future.
“We just have so much confidence in who she is on and off the court, and I’m lucky to be alongside her. I’m just in awe,” said Kayla McBride, who scored 21 points. “She’s had an amazing season and amazing postseason obviously. Can’t wait to see what she does in the future.”
