New York Liberty Wins Its First WNBA Title, Favored to Repeat in 2025

It took 28 years for the New York Liberty to win their first WNBA title. According to oddsmakers, it will take only 12 months to win their second.

The win in Game 5 over the Minnesota Lynx did not come without controversy. Minnesota led by two points, and were just seconds away from winning their fifth title when Liberty star Breanna Stewart was fouled by Lynx center Alanna Smith. Or was it a foul?

The Lynx challenged the call, but the officials declined to overturn it, and Stewart knocked down both foul shots to tie the game with 5.2 seconds left. Minnesota failed to convert on a last-second shot, and then lost to the Liberty in overtime.

“All the headlines will be, ‘Reeve Cries Foul.’ Bring it on,” said Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve in her postgame press conference. “Bring it on because this s*** was stolen from us. Bring it on.”

The biggest issue for Reeve was that the same officials who just made the call, right or wrong, are the ones who review it to see if they made a mistake. “When you review, there should be the same parameters that you’re reviewing with, but the three people on the game need a fourth party to let them know. Because that decided the game.”

Reeve added, “We know this from being a part of the games for so long that sometimes you get away with this stuff when you’re physical and aggressive, and [the Liberty] certainly did. It’s a shame that officiating had such a hand in a series like this. The difference was at the foul line.”

In Game 5, the Lynx were 7-for-8 from the free throw line. The Liberty were 21-for-25. Those numbers were nearly flipped in Minnesota’s Game 4 win, when they shot 15-for-20 from the free throw line and the Liberty were 9-for-9.

Liberty Caps WNBA’s Most Consequential Season

Controversy aside, having the last remaining original franchise without a title to finally end that drought feels like a fitting end to the most important season of growth in the history of the WNBA. 

League MVP A’ja Wilson took her game to another level, and the rookie rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese points to a brighter future for a league looking to market its stars. And there was, of course, the packed arenas and improved television rights package. The WNBA had its highest in-game attendance in 22 years, and it was the most-watched on television in 24 years.

And now one its most iconic franchises sets its sights on repeating as champion.

The Liberty are the early betting favorite to win the 2025 WNBA championship, paying +175. The runner-up Lynx are paying +350 to win their fifth title next season. The Las Vegas Aces, the WNBA champions in 2022 and 2023, are on the board at +420. The Connecticut Sun, who were knocked out of the playoffs this year by the Lynx, are paying +650. The Caitlin Clark-led Indiana Fever, who ended a seven-year playoff drought this season, are paying +1300 to win their first championship since 2012.

Also at +1300 is the Seattle Storm, and everyone else is at +5000 odds or longer. The expansion Golden State Valkyries will play their first season in the WNBA in 2025, and they are on the board at +25000.

2025 MVP Odds

Wilson is coming off her third MVP award. She’s a six-time WNBA All-Star, she’s only 28, and is the favorite to win a fourth MVP next season with +200 odds. Clark, the Rookie of the Year in 2024 by a vote of 66-1, is at +250 to win the MVP next season. She led the WNBA in assists as a rookie and was All-WNBA First Team.

Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, a four-time All-Star, is paying +700 to be the MVP in 2025. Liberty standout Stewart has won the WNBA MVP twice (2018 and 2023), and she is at +750 to win a third. Liberty three-point specialist Sabrina Ionescu and Sun All-Star forward Alyssa Thomas are both at +3000.

The next event on the WNBA calendar is the Draft Lottery, scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 17. The Los Angeles Sparks, Dallas Wings, Chicago Sky, and Washington Mystics are the four teams who will participate. Golden State has been given the fifth selection in next year’s draft.

The WNBA Draft is scheduled for April 14, 2025.

© Copyright 2024 - VegasLuck.com