WNBA Finals: New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx Clash in Decisive Game 5

The 2024 WNBA Finals have reached their climax as the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx prepare to face off in a winner-takes-all Game 5. The series, tied at 2-2, will conclude on Sunday, October 20, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. This game marks the eighth time in WNBA history that the finals have gone to a fifth game.

The Liberty, led by star players Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, are seeking their first WNBA championship in franchise history. Despite a challenging start to the season with 20 consecutive losses, the Liberty have made significant progress and are now on the brink of history.

The Minnesota Lynx, with four WNBA titles under their belt, are looking to return to glory after their last championship in 2017. The team, featuring key players like Napheesa Collier and Bridget Carleton, has shown resilience throughout the series. In Game 4, the Lynx secured a dramatic 82-80 victory, thanks in part to Carleton’s crucial free throws in the final seconds.

The game is expected to be highly competitive, with recent matches in the series decided by narrow margins. Game 1 saw an historic comeback by the Lynx, Game 3 featured a logo three-pointer by Ionescu, and Game 4 ended with Carleton’s decisive free throws. Analysts predict that Game 5 will also come down to the wire.

The Liberty are favored at home, with odds of -5.5 on the spread and -270 on the moneyline. However, the Lynx have been consistent in keeping games close, making the +5.5 spread an attractive bet for some analysts.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET for the WNBA Countdown, followed by the tip-off at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can also stream the game through various services such as ESPN+, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Fubo, and DirecTV Stream.