NEW YORK — It wasn’t just that the No. 1 seed New York Liberty lost the opening game of the WNBA Finals at home in gut-wrenching fashion. It felt as if they lost it multiple times.
Credit the never-give-up Minnesota Lynx. But in the stunned aftermath of a 95-93 overtime loss Thursday at Barclays Center, the Liberty were still trying to figure out just how it all happened.
Up by as much as 18 and by 15 with 5 minutes, 20 seconds left in regulation, the Liberty seemed very much in control. Then the comeback started for the Lynx, and the calamity began for the Liberty.
New York, which is hoping to win its first WNBA title this season, was outscored 18-3 in the game’s final 5 minutes. The Liberty surrendered the lead with 5.1 seconds left on — of all things — a four-point play by Lynx guard Courtney Williams after Minnesota grabbed an offensive rebound off her miss.
Double gut punch.
“I definitely shouldn’t have fouled her,” New York’s Sabrina Ionescu said of clipping Williams on a 3-pointer that swished….
