Lynx avoid elimination in WNBA Finals with Game 4 win

Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) celebrates her team's win after Game 4 of the 2024 WNBA Finals against the New York Liberty at Target Center. Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Lynx avoid elimination in WNBA Finals, setting the stage for potential classic in Game 5

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Oct 18, 2024 10:47 PM ET

It seems appropriate one of the best WNBA Finals in recent memory will come down to a winner-take-all finish.

On Friday night in Game 4, the Minnesota Lynx avoided elimination, defeating the New York Liberty in an 82-80 nail-biter.

With four seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and the game tied 80-80, Lynx guard Courtney Williams missed a 19-foot pull-up jump shot. However, Minnesota forward Bridget Carleton grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled by Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu. Carleton then sank both free throws.

Bridget Carleton gets fouled on the put back and sinks both free throws to secure the Game 4 WIN for Minnesota #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/kXgWlpEu2Z
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 19, 2024

After the Liberty called timeout, they gave the ball to Ionescu, who drilled a 28-foot game-winner in Game 3. This time, she fired a 35-foot three-pointer that was off the mark.

According to Michael Voepel of ESPN, this is the first time the WNBA Finals have gone to five games since 2019. He added this is the last year the league will use a best-of-five format.

For first time since 2019, the @WNBA Finals will go the distance to five games -- in the last season the league has a best-of-5 format. (Best of 7 next year). @minnesotalynx prevail 82-80 on 2 free throws from @bridgecarleton (pride of Canada and @CycloneWBB) with 2 seconds left.
— Michael Voepel (@MAVoepel) October 19, 2024

Game 5 will be on Sunday at the Barclays Center in New York. Fans could be in for a potential classic if it's another thriller.

Two of the four games have featured both teams mounting a double-digit comeback. In Game 1, the Lynx erased an 18-point deficit, tied for the largest comeback in WNBA Finals history.

In Game 4, neither team led by more than six points, and there were 14 lead changes and 13 ties.

According to Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman of The Athletic, Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello called the series "the highest-level WNBA Finals series in league history in terms of quality of play." She may be right.

In 2024, the WNBA has experienced a boom in popularity. On Thursday, ESPN PR announced Game 3 was the most-viewed WNBA Finals contest on cable, with 1.4 million viewers.

A memorable finish could be the perfect way to cap off what should be considered one of the best seasons in WNBA history. It could also help the league continue to grow.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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