New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx Game 4 live results: Updates, highlights, analysis for WNBA Finals

The Lynx are on the brink of elimination after playing a strong Game 3 in which they fell short in the final minutes. After leading for a mere 5.1 seconds of regulation and 3:17 overall in the first 85 minutes of the series, the Lynx built the double-digit early lead they wanted and found more offensive performances around Collier. It evaporated, though, and not enough shots fell in the final minutes. New York led for two minutes, 13 seconds in Game 3 to pull within 40 minutes of the franchise’s first championship.

A true understanding of the ups and downs is often only found by experience. The Liberty, many of whom noted after winning Game 3 that the next game would be the hardest, played together in the Finals last year. They lost to the Las Vegas Aces, who lost the Finals in 2020. It’s tough to find a WNBA champion without a veteran leader who had experienced the season’s final series at least once prior to winning it.

“The Finals is a win-or-go-home type of vibe, so everything is upped,” said Lynx guard Courtney Williams, who lost the five-game 2019 Finals with the Connecticut Sun. “The intensity, the sense of urgency, everything. All the small details. It’s just a whole ’nother level.”