WNBA Finals 2024 live score: Liberty vs. Lynx updates, results, highlights from Game 5

Basketball isn’t just a sport. It’s also an art form, adorned in all sorts of different colors and brushstrokes.

Masterpieces do happen on the hardwood. They’ve been all the more common in this year’s WNBA Finals, a clash unlike few others in recent basketball history.

The Liberty and Lynx have conjured up captivating spells during their first four postseason contests with one another. Each game has been marked by moments of wonder — from Courtney Williams’ four-point equalizer and Napheesa Collier’s heroics in Game 1 to Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu’s outbursts in Game 3 to Game 4’s breathless finish. All of that has amounted to a 2-2 series, one in need of a decisive Game 5 to settle the score and determine a WNBA champion.

For New York, the implications of a title would reverberate for years to come. The Liberty are yet to wear the WNBA’s crown, having fallen short of the finish line on five separate occasions, most recently last year. Stewart and Ionescu have impressed at times during the series. But they’ve also been inconsistent, with subpar showings in Games 1 and 4 underpinning New York losses. Sandy Brondello’s squad can ill afford similar showings in its last duel.

Meanwhile, Minnesota is hoping to return to the WNBA’s mountaintop for the first time since Maya Moore stepped away. Such a result will prove a tall task — Stewart, Ionescu, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Jonquel Jones are as fierce as they come.

But with Collier, Kayla McBride, Bridget Carleton and Courtney Williams at the helm — not to mention star tactician Cheryl Reeve — the Lynx look well-equipped to joust — and potentially vanquish — their Big Apple adversaries.

The Sporting News is tracking live updates from Game 5 of the WNBA Finals between the Liberty and the Lynx. Follow below for highlights, analysis and more as the W’s two best franchises attempt to snatch history for themselves atop the Barclays Center floor.

STREAM: Watch WNBA Finals games live with Fubo (free trial)

Liberty vs. Lynx score 1Q2Q3Q4QFNew York Liberty10    Minnesota Lynx19    WNBA Finals live updates, results, highlights from Liberty vs. Lynx Game 5(All times Eastern)

8:42 p.m.: Minnesota’s defense continues to stifle New York to no end. Ionescu is still scoreless. The turnovers are piling up. And the Lynx continue to capitalize. Minnesota’s lead has ballooned to 14 after Collier deftly shrugged off Stewart’s contest to drop a lefty layup off the back window. She’s got 14 thus far — more than any other player.

8:38 p.m.: Among the many luminaries in attendance tonight is one Angel Reese, who is repping her Unrivaled counterparts Collier and Stewart.

A familiar face in the crowd for Game 5! Heyyy Angel 👋#WNBAFinals presented by @youtubetv pic.twitter.com/OuQB5I28vq

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 21, 20248:33 p.m.: Stewart breaks the seal on her scoring, firing home a runner from inside the free throw line. Could that spark a flood of baskets for the UConn alum?

End of first quarter: Lynx 19, Liberty 108:28 p.m.: Opening frame comes to a close. Minnesota holds a nine-point edge, with Collier (eight points, three rebounds) proving the Lynx’s most effective player thus far.

On the New York side of the ball, Sandy Brondello’s side needs more from Stewart and Ionescu. They combined for zero points on 0-8 shooting through the game’s first 10 minutes.

8:25 p.m.: The Liberty burst into life for a moment, cutting Minnesota’s lead to just two points. The Lynx upped the ante shortly thereafter, though, rattling off basket after basket via backdoor cut.

8:16 p.m.: The Lynx have started the game the better of the two sides, riding Collier’s steady scoring to an early 10-6 lead. Stewart and Ionescu are a combined 0-5 to start the game. Not what you want to see as a Liberty fan.

8:09 p.m.: The ball is tipped off! And away we go! Game 5 of the WNBA Finals is here!

7:30 p.m.: Jones isn’t the only hoops maven to take the floor before Sunday night’s duel. So too is Napheesa Collier, who is looking to capture his first career WNBA title with a win in Game 5. The 31-percent three-point shooter was seen firing off some triples ahead of Sunday’s contest.

The reigning DPOY, Napheesa Collier, preparing for tonight’s game. #WNBATwitter pic.twitter.com/UOlk2UhLCe

— Her Hoop Stats (@herhoopstats) October 20, 20247:05 p.m.: If New York is to win Sunday’s game — and the championship that goes with it — it will need a strong performance by Jonquel Jones. When the former MVP records double-doubles, the Liberty tend to win; New York’s Game 1 loss to Minnesota represents the only defeat the Liberty have incurred when Jones records at least 10 points and 10 assists.

Jonquel Jones warming up ahead of the decisive Game 5 tonight. #WNBATwitter pic.twitter.com/ZNfGnq2v9z

— Her Hoop Stats (@herhoopstats) October 20, 20246:30 p.m.: Tonight’s duel represents a major moment for both franchises taking part in the festivities. Unsurprisingly, the players are making sure to dress for success, with Breanna Stewart, Natisha Heideman and Ellie the Elephant among the biggest standouts.

Now this, is a Game 5 fit 😮‍💨🔥 pic.twitter.com/5xW6a3aF1t

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 20, 2024we ready. pic.twitter.com/OzGb4vjTWa

— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) October 20, 2024Now this, is a Game 5 fit 😮‍💨🔥 pic.twitter.com/5xW6a3aF1t

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 20, 2024🫂 pic.twitter.com/krm3geeBXp

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 20, 20241 TIME FOR THE BIRTHDAY CHICKKKK 🤪🎈 pic.twitter.com/Lm8lJpMBsM

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 20, 2024What channel is Liberty vs. Lynx on today?TV channel: ESPNLive stream: ESPN+, FuboThe Liberty and Lynx will settle their quarrels in the WNBA Finals on ESPN. Cord-cutters can follow all the action on ESPN+ and Fubo.

MORE WNBA FINALS COVERAGE:

Minnesota Lynx ride Electric Slide tradition into WNBA Finals Game 5Revisiting Sabrina Ionescu’s game-winning logo 3 for LibertyHow Aubrey Plaza became courtside entertainment at WNBA FinalsMeet Ellie the Elephant, the Liberty mascot capturing fans’ heartsWho is Hroniss Grasu? Meet Sabrina Ionescu’s husbandLiberty vs. Lynx start timeDate: Sunday, Oct. 20Time: 8:30 p.m. ETGame 5 of the WNBA Finals is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 20. No matter the result, the 2024 WNBA season will come to a close at the end of Sunday’s contest.

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