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    • Scores, updates from WNBA Finals
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    Scores, updates from WNBA Finals

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    The New York Liberty have made it to the WNBA Finals five times in franchise history, but have come away empty-handed each time. Now the Liberty are just one win away from their first-ever WNBA championship.

    But New York isn’t daydreaming about a championship parade just yet.

    “The job isn’t done yet,” Breanna Stewart said after her double-double performance (30 points, 11 rebounds) in the Liberty’s thrilling Game 3 win over the Minnesota Lynx. “We know we’re one game away from winning the championship, and I think they’re going to give us their best chance. They’re going to give it everything they’ve got, and you know what, so are we.”

    That’s exactly the plan for Minnesota. “It’s win or go home right now,” said the Lynx’s Napheesa Collier, who now has the most points scored in a single postseason (249) after celebrating Dianna Taurasi’s 2009 postseason performance on Wednesday ( 245) had surpassed. “We have to come in with the mentality that we’re going to be just as aggressive.”

    Follow along with USA TODAY Sports for live updates and highlights on Game 4:

    The New York Liberty entered Game 4 with a 2-1 WNBA Finals series lead over the Minnesota Lynx 2-1. The 2024 finals will be a best-of-five series, but that will change in 2025 when the competition moves to a best-of-seven format.

    Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich (10:15 p.m.) passed Briann January for most 3-pointers made by a rookie in WNBA Finals history.

    The teams were evenly matched in the opening frame, which ended with a Leonie Fiebich jump shot with 23 seconds left. Kayla McBride had made two of three free throws to give the Lynx a 23-21 lead with 35 seconds left in the quarter.

    I have long believed that Jonquel Jones is THE key to a Liberty championship. Stewie becomes Stewie, and Sabrina starts creating for others and herself. But virtually no one in the league has an answer for Jones, whose size and length on the inside pose problems for opponents on both ends of the floor and whose soft touch extends all the way to the three-point line (which seems kind of unfair, to be honest ). Jones already has seven points in eight minutes and grabbed three rebounds. If she has a big game, the Liberty will probably go home as champions tonight. — Lindsay Schnell

    After scoring 30 points in Game 3, Breanna Stewart got off to a rough start in Game 4. She opened the game going 0-for-7 from the field and 0-for-3 from three.

    Ellie the Elephant (Liberty) and Prowl (Lynx) exchanged words on Twitter tonight before Game 4.

    Reporter Lindsay Schnell on Lynx forward Alanna Smith:

    Courtney Williams puts Minnesota on the board first with a pull-up jumper to take the 2-0 lead. Williams also got an assist from Napheesa Collier, who scored on a layup to give their team a 4-0 lead.

    When is Game 4 of the WNBA Finals?

    Game 4 of the WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx is Friday at 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM local) at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

    How to watch Game 4 of the WNBA Finals

    Game 4 will air on ESPN with Ryan Ruocco (play-by-play), Rebecca Lobo (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline reporter) on the call.

    Will there be a live stream of Game 4 of the WNBA Finals?

    The game can be streamed live on ESPN+ or the ESPN app, in addition to Fubo, which is offering a free trial.

    According to BetMGM betting odds, the New York Liberty are the favorites to beat the Minnesota Lynx in Friday’s WNBA Finals game. Do you want to bet? Check out the best gambling apps in 2024 with the best gambling promotions and bonuses in 2024.

    • Spread: Freedom (-2.5)
    • Moneyline: Freedom (-150); Lynx (+125)
    • Top/bottom: 158.5

    *Chances as of Thursday evening

    The New York Liberty bring their 32-8 season to Minnesota to take on the four-time champion Lynx. A title this season would mark the Liberty’s first championship.

    Best of 5; Always Oriental

    • Game 1: Thursday, October 10, Minnesota Lynx 95, New York Liberty 93
    • Game 2: Sunday, October 13, New York Liberty 80, Minnesota Lynx 66
    • Game 3: Wednesday, October 16, New York Liberty 80, Minnesota Lynx 77
    • Game 4: Friday, October 18, New York Liberty at Minnesota Lynx, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
    • Game 5: Sunday, Oct. 20: Minnesota Lynx at New York Liberty, 8 p.m. (if needed) (ESPN)

    Always Oriental

    Sunday September 29

    • Game 1: New York 87, Las Vegas 77, Liberty leads series 1-0
    • Game 1: Connecticut 73, Minnesota 70, Sun leads series 1-0

    Tuesday October 1

    • Game 2: New York 88, Las Vegas 84, Liberty leads the series 2-0
    • Game 2: Minnesota 77, Connecticut 70, Series tied 1-1

    Friday October 4

    • Game 3: Minnesota 90, Connecticut 81, Lynx leads series 2-1
    • Game 3: New York 81, Las Vegas 95, Liberty leads series 2-1

    Sunday October 6

    • Game 4: New York 76, Las Vegas 62, Liberty wins series 3-1
    • Game 4: Connecticut 92, Minnesota 82, Series tied 2-2

    Tuesday October 8

    • Game 5: Minnesota 88, Connecticut 77 Lynx win series

    The 2024 WNBA Finals series will air on ABC or ESPN, depending on the game. Streaming options for the series are available on Fubo, Sling and the WNBA League Pass.

    • Breanna Stewart
    • Sabrina Ionescu
    • Jonquel Jones
    • Betniya Laney
    • Leonie Fiebich
    • Napheesa Collier
    • Kayla McBride
    • Alanna Smith
    • Bridget Carleton
    • Courtney Williams

    WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has announced that the league’s championship series will transition from a best-of-five match to a best-of-seven game series in 2025.

    WNBA Finals Ratings

    ESPN PR announced that the New York Liberty’s 80-77 victory over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 was the most-watched WNBA Finals game on cable, with 1.4 million viewers. Viewership peaked at 2 million viewers and saw a +112% increase compared to Game 3 of the 2023 Finals on ABC.

    The league announced its first and second All-WNBA teams on Wednesday.

    First team

    • Napheesa Collier, Minnesota lynx
    • A’Ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
    • Breanna Stewart, Freedom of New York
    • Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
    • Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun

    Second team:

    • Sabrina Ionescu, Freedom in New York
    • Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury
    • Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm
    • Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings
    • Jonquel Jones, Freedom of New York

    MINNEAPOLIS – After Sabrina Ionescu’s game-winning shot Wednesday night in Minneapolis, social media went wild as other players and athletes reacted to the deep 3.

    Perhaps the funniest response came from Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, who asked in apparent disbelief, “Is that what Sandy (Brondello) came up with?!”

    It turns out: no.

    “When it happened, the play wasn’t right in the first place, that’s NOT what was set up,” New York forward Breanna Stewart said with a laugh. “When it came in, I wanted to punch Sab, but then I thought, did they call a timeout? There’s one second left, we have to stay focused! It’s incredible to hear an arena so quiet become.”

    When she watched the recording back — which she did Wednesday night “as many times as it showed up on my phone” — Stewart said she was struck by how many different reactions she could see. She was also reminded how impressive it was that Ionescu hit the shot, considering it came from a (slightly) broken play.

    “Well, they made a mistake (with ten seconds left), so we had to switch sides, and when you have to switch sides, it gets a little complicated,” Stewart said again, laughing.

    She wasn’t surprised by Ionescu’s name either.

    “A step back to the left, for Sab that’s a bull’s eye,” she said. — Lindsay Schnell

    MINNEAPOLIS — A big factor tonight in Game 4: Alanna Smith.

    Minnesota’s second-team All-Defense forward has done an excellent job guarding New York’s Jonquel Jones, despite the fact that Jones carries 32 pounds and two inches. Jones is one of Liberty’s best players and part of the “Big 3” that also includes All-Stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.

    But during Game 3, Smith fell hard in the paint when Jones posted her, and Smith landed right on her back. She stood up clutching her lower back and walked gingerly during Thursday’s media availability.

    Smith told reporters she would like to go for Game 4. She had no plans to get any kind of injection — common among athletes trying to get through a season while dealing with injuries — and said she would just be focused. when warming up early. She’s been alternating ice and heat since the end of Game 3.

    She joked during shootaround Friday that because staying warm is important, she might have to talk coach Cheryl Reeve into keeping her on the floor even if she gets into foul trouble early, which happened in Game 3. Sitting on the bench for a while could make her hard.

    “I’m not sure if she will (keep me grounded), but I can try!” Smith said, laughing. — Lindsay Schnell

    Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty arrive at the Target Center in Minneapolis ahead of Game 4.

    Stewart’s 30-point performance on Wednesday was the most for the Liberty in the WNBA Finals.

    Napheesa Collier and the Lynx have also arrived for tonight’s game with a chance to defend home court and extend the series.

    ESPN analysts share Game 4 predictions

    ESPN’s Andraya Carter and Carolyn Peck give their thoughts ahead of Game 4 of the WNBA Finals.

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