<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1ONLfY_0wFE5dUr00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1ONLfY_0wFE5dUr00" width="1200" height="668" > For the first time in franchise history, the New York Liberty have been crowned WNBA champions. In a back-and-forth overtime battle, the Liberty outlasted the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in a winner-take-all Game 5 on Sunday night. Liberty stars Brenna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu didn't shoot the ball particularly well, combining for just 5-of-34 from the field. However, their teammates stepped up. Jonquel Jones led the team in scoring with 17 points, and Nyara Sabally's <a href="https://x.com/wnba/status/1848187996631417212?s=42" rel="nofollow"> hustle </a> and <a href="https://x.com/nba/status/1848190530275901604?s=42" rel="nofollow"> defensive effort </a> down the wire made the difference. Sabally finished with <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/boxscore/_/gameId/401726992" rel="nofollow"> 13 points, seven rebounds and a block </a> off the bench. After the game, WNBA legend and three-time champion Lisa Leslie took to X to share a strong message with Lynx star Napheesa Collier. The Lynx were on the wrong end of the result Sunday night. However, Collier's incredible effort didn't go unnoticed. Leslie made sure to give her her flowers in that regard. "Wow!" Leslie wrote. "What an amazing effort&nbsp;Napheesa Collier&nbsp;You gave it your all❤️🙏🏾&nbsp;Not the ending you wanted but a true MVP effort!!" <blockquote></blockquote> Collier finished the night with <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/boxscore/_/gameId/401726992" rel="nofollow"> 22 points, seven rebounds and two assists </a> . Despite the loss, the sixth-year forward had a season to remember. She was named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, made the All-WNBA First Team, became a four-time WNBA All-Star and achieved several other honors. Collier, 28, was drafted sixth overall in the 2019 WNBA draft out of the University of Connecticut. With the 2024 WNBA season officially in the books,&nbsp;fans can start looking ahead to a few upcoming events.&nbsp;The WNBA draft lottery is set for Nov. 17, and shortly after, on Dec. 6, the league will host the expansion draft for its newest franchise, the Golden State Valkyries. <a href="https://athlonsports.com/wnba/minnesota-lynx/napheesa-collier-shines-pregame-outfit-for-lynx-liberty-game-4" rel="nofollow"> Related: Napheesa Collier Shines in Pregame Outfit for Lynx-Liberty Game 4 </a></div></body>