The WNBA Finals are upon us, and buckle up, basketball fans—things are about to get wild! The New York Liberty, led by a cast of human cheat codes, are marching into the finals after slaying the mighty two-time defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, in a 76-62 showdown that had A’ja Wilson seeing double (Stewie and Sabrina, no less). The Liberty are hosting the first two games, and they’re not here to play around—unless that involves dropping buckets and breaking ankles.
But wait, not so fast. We still don’t know if the Liberty will face the gritty Minnesota Lynx or the feisty Connecticut Sun. The Sun, like a stubborn stain on your favorite jersey, refused to be eliminated and forced a Game 5 in their series after a convincing 92-82 win. So while the Liberty rest up, the Sun and Lynx are busy knocking each other around in a last-ditch brawl for a Finals ticket. Either way, both teams must be thrilled to face a Liberty squad that now looks hungrier than a rookie on a 10-day contract.
Liberty fans are understandably hyped, but Breanna Stewart—also known as the walking double-double—has a message for anyone already planning the victory parade: “We haven’t done anything yet.” Thanks for the reminder, Stewie, but we’ll be popping the champagne anyway, just in case. You’ve got the WNBA’s MVP and the deadly shooting duo of Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot in your corner. No one’s blaming us for getting excited, alright?
A Fight for Legacy or Firsts?
For the Liberty, this is personal. Last season’s WNBA Finals loss to the Aces still stings. With New York being so close to winning its first championship in 2023, it’s safe to say that the Liberty are sick of being second place. This year, they’ve got their eyes set on the only acceptable outcome: history in the making, a parade through the Big Apple, and maybe a few snarky tweets aimed at their doubters along the way.
As for the Lynx, they’ve been here before. Championship pedigree? Check. Their last title came in 2017, but don’t count them out as old news. Meanwhile, the Sun, despite always being in the mix, are still chasing that elusive first championship. They’re like that one friend who’s been “almost there” a million times but just can’t close the deal. The Sun will be hoping this is the year they finally stop being the bridesmaid and take home the bouquet.
Mark Your Calendars and Cancel Your Plans
The WNBA Finals schedule is here, and it’s shaping up to be a best-of-five series full of tension, sweat, and probably a few broken hearts. Game 1 tips off Thursday, Oct. 10 in the Big Apple. The Liberty will host Game 2 on Sunday, Oct. 13—so if you’ve got brunch plans, cancel them (your mimosas can wait). Then, the series shifts to either Minnesota or Connecticut for Game 3 on Wednesday, Oct. 16. If necessary, we’ll head to a Game 4 on Friday, Oct. 18. And if the series goes the distance—because of course it will—Game 5 will be back in New York on Sunday, Oct. 20, where destiny awaits.
Get ready for the Liberty to face their destiny—or someone’s else fairy tale ending to become the stuff of WNBA legend. Either way, it’s about to get intense.
