In a nail-biting thriller, the Minnesota Lynx staged a historic comeback to defeat the New York Liberty 95-93 in overtime, proving that even an 18-point lead is no match for determination—and a little bit of WNBA magic.

The Lynx's shocking victory not only reshapes the dynamics of the WNBA Finals but also secures their place in history, as they become the first team to overcome a 15-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation in postseason play. With Napheesa Collier clinching the game-winning basket and Courtney Williams delivering a stellar performance, the Lynx are set to remind the Liberty that leads are like hairlines—sometimes they're just not meant to last.

Collier's decisive shot came with just 8.8 seconds left in overtime, reinforcing the old adage—it's not how you start, but how you finish. The Lynx were down by many points earlier in the game, but after the first half, they clearly remembered that this was not a marathon, but a sprint—albeit a sprint that occasionally required taking a few breaks and tying shoelaces multiple times.

Courtney Williams was the standout performer, scoring a total of 23 points while somehow managing to make the complicated look easy. His four-point play with just 5.1 seconds remaining in regulation sent the Barclays Center into a frenzy, leaving everyone wondering if the Liberty had mistaken their game plan for a strict guide on how to let victory slip through one’s fingers.

The Liberty began the game with an impressive 18-point lead, looking as though they might be moving toward cleaning up their trophy shelf. However, the latter stages of the game were less of a slow march to a championship and more of a quick trot toward disaster. With four minutes left in regulation, they somehow found a way to gift the Lynx a 12-point lifeline. Clearly, someone on the Liberty staff forgot to remind the players that the game isn’t over until it’s over—or at least until the final buzzer sounds.

Jonquel Jones, leading the Liberty with an impressive 24 points and 10 rebounds, showcased her talent throughout the game. However, the Liberty's strategy appeared to shift as they inadvertently showcased the almost artistic way one can blow leads—the sheer elegance of unnecessary turnovers and missed free throws was truly something to behold.

The Lynx's comeback is particularly striking considering they played a grueling Game 5 just two days prior—talk about a quick recovery. Perhaps there’s an unspoken rule in the WNBA: Never underestimate a team that smells overtime within reach. This resilience is bound to infuriate any conspiracy theorist who believes that hard work should be outweighed by a good night’s sleep.

Adding to the drama of the night was a crowd of 17,732 avid fans at the Barclays Center, including celebrity guests like Spike Lee and Jason Sudeikis. You could almost hear the collective gasps and cheers echoing like a Broadway hit, with the tension more palpable than a celebrity sighting at a coffee shop. For those in attendance, choosing a side was more akin to a high-stakes game of musical chairs.

The history between the Lynx and Liberty has seen Minnesota come out on top in four of their five matchups this season, a fact that certainly must have weighed heavily on the Liberty's minds as they took the court. Sandy Brondello, the Liberty’s coach, acknowledged this pattern and seemed to remain aware that the Lynx had the kryptonite to their otherwise super performance—if only they could have maintained their composure during those crucial final minutes.

Now that the stage is set, and the Lynx have drawn first blood, the WNBA Finals will continue next year as a best-of-seven series. This format means both teams truly need to bring their A-game, because one win can easily be forgotten amid another swift deficit. As it stands, the Lynx have made quite a statement, indicating that when it comes to finals, it’s not about making a quick exit after the first act but riding through the entire saga with a little flair and a lot of grit.