WNBA Finals preview: Lynx are last obstacle in Liberty's chase for 1st title

A new WNBA champion will be crowned this season.

The New York Liberty are one step closer to their first title in franchise history after avenging last season's Finals loss to the Las Vegas Aces.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Lynx are pursuing a record-breaking fifth WNBA championship following a hard-fought semifinal clash against the Connecticut Sun.

Here's how the two sides stack up before the Finals begin Thursday at the Barclays Center.

New York Liberty

How they got here

Record: 32-8 (1st in WNBA standings)
First Round: Liberty 2, Dream 0
Semifinals: Liberty 3, Aces 1

Star player: Breanna Stewart

Stewart remains one of the WNBA's top two-way forces. The 6-foot-4 forward is a mismatch nightmare on the offensive end - an elite finisher around the basket who punishes guards on switches and is more than capable of creating for herself when putting the ball on the floor. The Liberty have had success initiating their offense through Stewart, using the two-time Finals MVP in dribble-handoffs and having her bring the ball upcourt to take some pressure off the team's guards. She tallied a playoff career-high eight assists in New York's Game 2 win over Las Vegas. On the defensive end, her 7-foot-1 wingspan disrupts opponents both at the rim and on the perimeter.

Star player: Sabrina Ionescu

The 2024 postseason has been a coming-of-age moment for Ionescu. The former No. 1 overall pick is taking over contests in a similar manner to her days at Oregon. She's averaging 20.7 points, 5.2 boards, 5.2 assists, and 1.5 steals during New York's run to the Finals, and she's been exceptional down the stretch, ranking third in fourth-quarter points (45) and shooting 50% from the field. Ionescu's performance in the final frame of Game 2 versus the Aces just about summed up her postseason campaign. The fourth-year guard made timely baskets, set up teammates when the defense collapsed on her, and sealed the matchup with two clutch free throws.

X-factor: Leonie Fiebich

Leonie Fiebich finally made her WNBA debut this season, just over four years after the Los Angeles Sparks selected her with the No. 22 overall pick. The 6-foot-4 forward has made an instant impact for the Liberty, earning WNBA All-Rookie team honors and finishing second in Sixth Player of the Year voting. Sandy Brondello's decision to move Fiebich into the starting five at the start of the playoffs has been a difference-maker. The 24-year-old is averaging 10.5 points and shooting 59.1% from beyond the arc, and her length against Chelsea Grey and Jackie Young helped keep Las Vegas' top-scoring offense in check. Fiebich's plus-28 rating in the Liberty's series-clinching Game 4 win over the Aces was the highest by a rookie in WNBA playoff history, according to Alford Corriette of Her Hoop Stats.

Reason for concern: Recent history

New York is the league's No. 1 seed but was second best to Minnesota in three of four regular-season meetings, including the Commissioner's Cup final. Napheesa Collier had a double-double in each matchup, Bridget Carleton made 13 of 21 attempts from downtown, and Courtney Williams averaged 5.5 assists. If the Liberty hope to finally capture their first WNBA championship, they'll need to slow down a Lynx offense that dropped 83.3 points per contest against them.

Minnesota Lynx

How they got here

Record: 30-10 (2nd in WNBA standings)
First Round: Lynx 2, Mercury 0
Semifinals: Lynx 3, Sun 2

Star player: Napheesa Collier

Few players are as versatile on both ends of the floor as Collier. The UConn product has been an offensive juggernaut in the postseason, averaging 27.1 points, 9.6 boards, and 3.9 assists across seven appearances. She's draining 45% of her threes and shooting 54.6% from the field overall. Collier showcased her entire arsenal in a record-tying 42-point performance against the Phoenix Mercury in the opening around. The 2024 MVP runner-up made backdoor cuts, knocked down catch-and-shoot threes, hit turnaround jumpers, and continually gashed the defense in the pick-and-roll. Collier's defensive versatility is just as impressive. She stays vertical when contesting shots at the rim and uses her quick hands on the perimeter to poach the ball from opposing guards.

Star player: Courtney Williams

The free-agent signing of Williams has been a home run for the Lynx. In her first season with Minnesota, the All-Star guard averaged 11.1 points and a team-high 5.5 dimes per contest. She's been a steady presence at the point, posting a 2.26 assist-to-turnover ratio, which was among the league's best and was equal to Ionescu's mark. Williams' patented mid-range game and chemistry with Collier has been a key cog in the Lynx's offense. The ninth-year vet frequently scores on dribble-handoff sequences with Collier and returns the favor in the pick-and-roll.

X-factor: Perimeter shooting

Minnesota connected on a WNBA-leading 38% of its 3-point attempts during the regular season. The formula worked in the semifinals against a defensively sound Sun squad and will likely be the best route to victory against another stingy opponent. The Lynx shot 44.1% from long distance versus New York over their four matchups and enjoyed a 14-of-29 performance in the Commissioner's Cup championship game. Five different Minnesota players shot at least 36% from beyond the arc during the regular season, including Carleton and Kayla McBride, who each finished in the top 10 in 3-point field goals. The Lynx need to continue leaning on their outside attack and make the extra pass to open shooters.

Reason for concern: Points in the paint

Can the Lynx provide any sort of interior resistance against Stewart and Jonquel Jones? New York dropped the season series but had a plus-24 advantage in points in the paint across their four tilts this year. Minnesota does have Collier - the reigning Defensive Player of the Year - and added Myisha Hines-Allen from the Washington Mystics at the trade deadline. Six-foot-five forward Dorka Juhasz could also see some minutes to spell Alanna Smith. The Lynx have some size to counter Stewart and Jones, but shutting down the talented frontcourt duo will be easier said than done.