The Liberty's 18-Second Collapse in Game 1: How It All Fell Apart
The Liberty's hopes for a WNBA title took a drastic turn in just 18 chaotic seconds during Game 1 of the Finals against the Minnesota Lynx. Leading by 15 points with just five minutes left in the game, the Liberty appeared to have things under control. However, what transpired in the final 18 seconds of regulation would flip the game on its head and unravel their lead, ultimately ending in a 95-93 overtime loss. Those moments might very well define the series.
With only 18 seconds left and the Liberty nursing a three-point lead, their defense initially held strong, forcing a missed three-point attempt by Courtney Williams. Yet, in the scramble for the rebound, Alanna Smith seized the ball and kicked it back out to Williams, who made sure not to miss a second time. Williams hit the game-tying three-pointer, and things took an even worse turn for the Liberty when Sabrina Ionescu fouled Williams in the process. Williams calmly sank the free throw, converting the four-point play and putting the Lynx ahead by one with only five seconds to go.
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That one sequence—an offensive rebound, a re-do three, and a costly foul—crushed the momentum New York had worked so hard to build. Liberty coach Sandy Brondello captured the feeling best: "Those things can break your back—and they did."
In the final moments, the Liberty had multiple chances to salvage the game. A chaotic series of inbounds passes, missed opportunities, and jump balls created a frenzied atmosphere. The team still managed to put themselves in position for a win when Breanna Stewart, one of the Liberty’s stars, was fouled with 0.8 seconds left in regulation. With the game on the line, Stewart stepped to the free-throw line but missed one of two shots, sending the game into overtime.
It wasn’t just the missed free throw that haunted the Liberty. In overtime, Stewart also missed a potential game-tying layup, adding to the frustration. Despite being a perennial clutch player, Stewart reflected on the emotional toll of the missed shots, saying, "It’s very frustrating, but I want to be taking these shots. It sucks to miss."
The Liberty will need to regroup and bounce back for Game 2, knowing how close they were to securing a win. While they showed dominance early, the collapse in the final seconds and the overtime loss put them in a tough spot. As the series continues, fans will be waiting to see if the Liberty can shake off this heart-wrenching defeat and come back stronger. The collapse in those critical 18 seconds may just shape the outcome of the Finals.
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