In what has arguably been the most exciting year in WNBA sports history, the season ended on Sunday with unprecedented fanfare. In the most extensive media market in the country, America witnessed the New York Liberty win their first WNBA championship since the league’s inception, beating the Minnesota Lynx 3-2 in the best-of-five series. The tightly contested match, at its peak, drew a record 3.3 million viewers. However, the games did not end without controversy.

It was a winner-take-all in Sunday night’s finale in New York. The game went down to the final 5.2 seconds in regulation when Minnesota’s Alanna Smith was whistled for a questionable foul  on Liberty superstar Breanna Stewart. The call was challenged and upheld. With millions of viewers watching, the call was addressed on social media and widely regarded as bad. The Liberty would win the game in overtime, 67-62, to claim the 2024 championship and the franchise’s first title.

After the game, Minnesota’s head coach Cheryl Reeve said a lousy call had decided the outcome. “All the headlines will be, ‘Reeve cries foul,’” the coach railed. Bring it on. Bring it on. Bring it on because this was stolen from us.” The Lynx were four-time WNBA champs.

It was the first basketball championship win for a New York City franchise since the ABA New York Nets Basketball team in 1976, which was preceded by the 1973 NBA New York Knicks. The Liberty’s journey to the Finals, having made it on five previous occasions before winning their first title, is a testament to their resilience and determination.

“After 28 years, we can finally say it: the New York Liberty are WNBA champions,” said Jonathan Kolb, General Manager of the New York Liberty. “This achievement belongs to our fans who never wavered, each and every Liberty legend who paved the way, Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai who breathed new life into an organization in need, and the entire city of New York that has been starving for a championship—and of course, our players, whose grit, sacrifice, and determination have made history. They are truly the first to do it in New York and I could not be more proud of this entire organization.”

Jonquel Jones was named the MVP, leading New York in scoring 17 points. Breanna Stewart’s performance, finishing with 13 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for her double-double, was a standout moment. Napheesa Collier’s 22 points to lead Minnesota before fouling out with 13 seconds left in OT added to the excitement of the game.

“I’ve been manifesting this moment for awhile, There’s no feeling like it,” Breanna Stewart said after the game. “Credit to Minnesota they gave us a tough series. The fans have been amazing everywhere we’ve gone. To bring a championship to New York, first ever in franchise history it’s an incredible feeling. I can’t wait to continue to celebrate with the city. It’s going to be bonkers.”

The success of the Liberty and the WNBA in 2024 changed the bargaining position for the players as they sought a new agreement.

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