Queens, NY—The Minnesota Lynx claimed their inaugural Commissioner’s Cup championship in a hard-fought 94-89 win over the New York Liberty on Tuesday night, signaling their status as a top-tier WNBA team. Bridget Carleton’s 23-point performance and Napheesa Collier’s 21 points were pivotal in securing the victory. Collier, who earned the game’s MVP honors, highlighted the Lynx’s cohesive teamwork, emphasizing their versatility and depth.
Minnesota’s triumph marks the fourth different team to win the Cup since its inception four years ago, continuing the trend of the host team losing. Despite New York’s efforts to repeat as champions, the Lynx effectively responded to every challenge, including crucial three-pointers by Carleton and Cecilia Zandalasini to break a tie late in the third quarter.
“It’s really good, always want to win championships,” Collier said. “This is a championship we won, but there’s still work to be done. A lot of games to be played. We want to build on this. We don’t want to peak here. This is amazing at the end of the day we want to achieve bigger things than this at the end of the season.”
The Liberty, led by Breanna Stewart’s 24 points and Sabrina Ionescu’s 23, made several runs but fell short in reclaiming the lead. Coach Cheryl Reeve praised her team’s resilience in overcoming the Liberty’s home advantage, underscoring their ability to execute under pressure.
The game, relocated to UBS Arena due to scheduling conflicts, saw a spirited effort from both teams, with New York initially leading 47-37 before Minnesota staged a comeback to narrow the gap. Despite challenges, including a subdued performance from Jonquel Jones, the Liberty fought hard, bolstered by the return of key players like Courtney Vandersloot and Betnijah-Laney Hamilton.
“What I’m proud of is we answered every run on the road and that tells you everything about our basketball team,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said.
Looking ahead, Collier expressed satisfaction with the Commissioner’s Cup victory but emphasized the Lynx’s focus on greater achievements in the upcoming games, aiming to build on their current success.
