The 2024 Women’s National Basketball Association Finals counts among the finest in history, and not simply because it went the distance. Every match was closely fought, with Games One and Five needing extra periods to be settled. If nothing else, the average margin of victory of five points showed just how much the Liberty and the Lynx were evenly matched on either end of the court. The competition wasn’t always pretty; in fact, yesterday’s do-or-die affair featured a combined 94 missed shots, 24 turnovers, and 38 fouls — not exactly the types of numbers that equate to a classic.
That said, there can be no denying that all the clunkers from both the Liberty and the Lynx — including Sabrina Ionescu’s abhorrent one-of 19 clip and Courtney Williams’ two-of-14 mark to accompany five turnovers — served to shine the spotlight on the outstanding efforts even more. There was Finals Most Valuable Player Jonquel Jones’ efficient 17 points and six boards, approximating her series average and highlighting her consistency throughout. There was Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier’s star turn as the best on the floor in every set-to. There was Breanna Stewart’s workmanlike line of 13 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and three blocks, her poor shooting notwithstanding. There was Kayla McBride’s all-around effort in putting up 21, five, five, and four.
In retrospect, the Liberty wound up lifting the hardware via a combination of talent, resolve, and no small measure of good fortune. To be sure, the Lynx were as deserving of the title, and may well have brought home a record fifth had they not been done in by controversial calls and non-calls in the crunch. One of those — on Alanna Smith despite seemingly good coverage — led to Stewart’s twin charities with five seconds left that subsequently forced overtime. And such was the heartbreak that head coach Cheryl Reeve could not help but argue, “This s—t was stolen from us.”
Granted, officiating was iffy at best in critical junctures of all five contests. For all the missteps by the referees, however, to contend that they decided the outcome of the entire affair would be to do the players a disservice. Given the pace and extremely physical nature of the proceedings, there will invariably be contact that is missed or misjudged. Meanwhile, the truly determined march on and endeavor to control what they can. Which is to say the Liberty have earned their place in hoops annals, and the Lynx have motivation to ensure that next year will have a different outcome.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
