The 2024 WNBA Finals had fans on the edge of their seats and Kendrick Perkins perfectly summed up the excitement, stating, “The physicality, skills, and passion that these ladies are displaying in these WNBA Finals is a beautiful thing to see! This what The Finals supposed to look like. Carry the hell on…” And indeed, the Liberty’s dramatic win over the Lynx, 67-62 in overtime, sealed their first championship in franchise history. But as New York celebrated, not everyone was thrilled with how the game went down!

Controversy tainted the Liberty’s victory, particularly in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. When Alanna Smith was called for the foul on Stewart, the Lynx were just seconds away from clinching the title. But Stewart’s free throws tied the game, giving New York a second chance in overtime. Isaiah Thomas, frustrated by the officiating, didn’t hold back, posting on X: “They lowkey cheated for NY but I get it lol.”

LeBron James was among those voicing their opinions. LeBron took to X, tweeting, “I’m sorry but that wasn’t a foul! Let the damn players dictate the outcome of a close battled tested game.” Similarly, Damian Lillard weighed in, calling out the officiating, and acknowledging the greatness of the game, but he couldn’t ignore the fact that the refs seemed to favor New York. “Refs called this game like they knew the assignment in the 2nd half boy. Great game,” he tweeted. Even reporter Nick Hamilton added fuel to the fire, suggesting the Liberty should “send a thank you card to the refs” for their victory.

Despite the controversy surrounding the officiating, the game itself was a true spectacle. The Liberty made history, becoming the first New York basketball team—men’s or women’s—to raise a championship banner since the ABA’s Nets back in 1976. The sold-out crowd of 18,090 fans erupted in celebration as the final buzzer sounded. Jonquel Jones, who had an outstanding series, couldn’t believe it herself. “I could never dream of this,” said Jones, who earned the Finals MVP after averaging 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds across the five games.

While some focused on the ref debates, many are simply enjoying the Liberty’s long-awaited first championship victory.

WNBA world reacts to New York Liberty’s 1st championship win

WNBA Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie took to X to congratulate the Liberty and Breanna Stewart, who was pivotal in their victory. “Congrats to the @nyliberty and its amazing fans!!! @breannastewart you did it with an amazing team effort,” Leslie tweeted. Stewart, who posted a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds, expressed her emotions after in the post-game interview, saying, “I’ve been manifesting this moment for a while…to bring a championship to New York, first ever in franchise history, it’s an incredible feeling.”

Even South Carolina Women’s Basketball coach, Dawn Staley, joined in, congratulating the Liberty on their first championship. Despite trailing by 12 points in the first half and barely edging into overtime, the Liberty fought back to secure the win. Staley wrote, “Congrats @nyliberty on your first @WNBA championship! Hard fought for sure!”

For the New York Liberty, this victory was a long time coming. After 28 years as one of the original WNBA franchises, they finally captured their first-ever championship title.