NEW YORK (AP) — Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx, both ranked No. 2 in the regular season, were on the verge of becoming No. 1 when it mattered most.

The Lynx were seconds away from a record fifth WNBA championship, with perhaps a WNBA Finals MVP award awaiting Collier, whose flurry late in regulation gave her team the lead in the final minute.

They couldn’t hold on.

The New York Liberty gathered in front a 67-62 overtime victory, denying the Lynx what would have been a WNBA record fifth championship.

Collier, the number two of unanimous MVP A’ja Wilson in the regular seasonscored 22 points before having to watch the final seconds from the bench after a foul in a game. Minnesota looked ready to win a few minutes earlier.

Like coach Cheryl Reeve, who said the game was like this “stolen” from the LynxShe was frustrated with her performance and felt she was being held back on some occasions, although she credited the Liberty for making adjustments.

“They turned up the pressure,” she said. “It’s the end of the game. Of course we’re both trying to win. They turned up the pressure and we got a few turnovers.”

The Lynx controlled the first half, but had fallen into a 56-52 hole on Sabrina Ionescu’s 3-pointer with 3:10 left. Then Collier, who started strong, got going again. She owned Minnesota’s next three baskets, with her drive past Breanna Stewart giving the Lynx a 60-58 lead with 1:04 to go.

“It’s obviously the exclamation point on the incredible season she’s had,” Reeve said. “You know, Napheesa showed up big time for this team. Put us in a position to be within seconds of a championship. Phee was phenomenal.”

But Minnesota wouldn’t score again until New York scored the next seven points, tying Stewart’s free throws with 5.2 seconds left to lead 65-60 in overtime.

Collier finished with seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal. The WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year played all but 35 seconds of the 45-minute game, and most of what she missed is because she made the mistake of stopping the clock with 13 seconds left in OT.

It was clearly a fantastic season for the forward, who averaged 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in her sixth year out of UConn. She too won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team and helped the Lynx achieve a franchise record 30 wins and earn the No. 2 seed.

But if Game 5 went differently, she might also have been able to grab a WNBA Finals MVP trophy, just like the elite Lynx players of the past have done.

Sylvia Fowles won the title in 2015 and 2017 after their last two championships. Seimone Augustus, enshrined last week in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famewas the winner in 2011 and Maya Moore two years later.

The Lynx believe similar accolades are on the way for Collier.

“We have so much confidence in who she is, both on and off the field, and I am fortunate to be standing next to her. I’m just impressed,” said Kayla McBride, who scored 21 points. “She obviously had a great season and a great postseason. I can’t wait to see what she does in the future.”

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball