“Y’all ain’t that good in New York.” Charles Barkley has never been shy about sharing his thoughts on New York sports teams. Known for not just his dislike of New York’s sports franchises, but also the “overrated” city in general, Barkley is back at it again—but this time, his target is the WNBA. As the buzz around the WNBA Finals between the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty grows, Barkley didn’t hesitate to throw shade.

Recently, the TNT analyst appeared on the Throwbacks, where the conversation primarily centered on the upcoming NBA season. However, he couldn’t resist making some bold statements about the ongoing WNBA Finals and seemed to dismiss the chances of Sandy Brondello’s New York Liberty capturing their first-ever title in franchise history.

“I tell you what, I’m going with the Lynx to beat the Liberty. I do I think they going to shock the world, I really do cuz I worry about the Liberty,” Barkley boldly declared on Throwbacks. His confidence in Minnesota comes after the Lynx pulled off a stunning upset in Game 1. The Liberty started strong, dominating the game and building a 13-point lead in the first quarter, but the Lynx stormed back in the final five minutes to snatch victory, marking one of the most historic comebacks in WNBA Finals history.

Barkley had a reason to dismiss the Liberty’s chances as he believes the team has blown up their energy in the semi-final series itself. “They just give all their juice to getting rid of the ghost of the Aces, and I tell you what this Minnesota team man! They’re good. They might be a team of destiny. It’s going to be fun to watch because I’m a big WNBA fan,” concluded the former NBA player.

Though Breanna Stewart and Co. didn’t sweep last year’s champions, they still managed to send them packing with a 3-1 series win, completing their revenge for last year’s Finals defeat. Barkley, however, has made it a habit to downplay New York teams. Just a few months ago, he said, “Y’all ain’t that good in New York. Y’all (New Yorkers) overrated.” The Chuckster even claimed that he’d love to see the Knicks get thrashed by the Boston Celtics in the playoffs last season. However, that matchup never came to fruition.

But it wasn’t all criticism from him; he also had some glowing praise for one of the Liberty’s opponents.

Charles Barkley calls Napheesa Collier a “monster” post her defensive brilliance in Game 1

“This girl Napheesa Collier. She is a flat out monster,” Barkley declared before sharing his prediction that the Lynx would win the Finals. While his predictions can be taken with a grain of salt—especially considering his bias with New York teams and the fact that the series is still alive—his admiration for Collier, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, is hard to dispute.

In Game 1 against the Liberty, Napheesa Collier racked up 21 points, making her the third-highest scorer for the Lynx. When the game stretched into overtime, it was Phee who sealed the deal. With just 8 seconds left on the clock, she sank a clutch two-point jumper, delivering the game-winning blow and securing the Lynx’s dramatic victory. While her offensive heroics grabbed headlines, what really makes Collier the “monster” Barkley raved about is her defensive brilliance.

The Lynx’s #24 was an absolute wall on defense, teaming up with Alanna Smith to stifle Liberty’s sharpshooter Sabrina Ionescu and putting pressure on Jonquel Jones, the top scorer of the game. Even in the final moments of the fourth quarter, with Breanna Stewart driving into the paint for what could’ve been a game-winner, it was Collier who came up with a crucial block. Without that defensive stand, Cheryl Reeve’s squad might have let the game slip away right then and there.

She wrapped up the game with an impressive stat line—six blocks, three steals, and eight rebounds—showcasing exactly why she earned this season’s DPOY honor. Her defensive dominance played a key role in the Lynx’s victory, and with another game on the Liberty’s home court coming up on Sunday, all eyes will be on whether she can once again neutralize New York’s potent offense. Can Collier’s monster defense prove Charles Barkley’s bold prediction correct?