WNBA Finals: Minnesota's Courtney Williams plays hero in Game 1 chaos

A'ja Wilson was the MVP. Caitlin Clark was the rookie sensation. Napheesa Collier is the Defensive Player of the Year. The Liberty are the super team. But the WNBA playoffs belong to Courtney Williams.

Two days and approximately 1,020 miles ago, Williams led her team to a semifinal victory over the Connecticut Sun, finishing Game 5 with 24 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds. It was a heroic performance from the Minnesota guard, but ultimately nothing compared to what she did Thursday night in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.

Since high school, Williams has excelled in the midfield. It's as much her identity as her platinum blonde buzz cut. She is called “Midrange Mistress” and “Midrange Monster”. By the way, she agrees with both nicknames.

“People can call me whatever as long as they show me love,” Williams said.

She shoots more long 2-pointers than anyone in the WNBA. But just because it's her trademark doesn't mean it's her only shot.

On Thursday, it was her 3-point shooting that secured a 95-93 overtime victory over the heavily favored New York Liberty, who blew a record 18-point lead in the finale.

The Lynx were in the midst of a massive comeback after cutting their deficit to 68-61 early in the fourth quarter. But toward the end of the game, the Liberty still had a three-point lead. Williams put her team on top with one play with 5.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

She rose on the wing and hit a three-pointer over Sabrina Ionescu, who was also whistled for a foul. Then Williams stepped to the line and calmly completed the four-point play.

Then, after a Breanna Stewart free throw sent the teams into overtime, Williams again knocked down a crucial three-pointer. This came with 1:16 left in overtime and gave the Lynx a 91-87 lead.

Both shots were assisted by Alanna Smith, who was part of a Lynx lineup where getting Williams the ball was the top priority.

“This is just a testament to how much we trust each other,” Williams said. “We have so many great 3-point shooters and the fact that these girls are out here trying to get me the ball. I could cry. It’s amazing.”

Williams finished Game 1 with 23 points on 9 of 18 shooting (2 of 6 from 3), 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

The tears of joy have been a constant for Williams since she signed with the Lynx in the offseason. She's been in the league since 2016 and has played for five different organizations, but none have felt like the Lynx.

Williams has found a home with Minnesota. And with this newfound comfort comes a newfound energy.

“I love it here,” she said. “I say that all the time, and I don’t just say it for fun. The people I'm with, we believe in each other so much. It's crazy, man. I’m just happy to be here.”

Williams has previously played in the Finals with Connecticut in 2019 and 2022. She was on the losing side in both games, but her postseason experience will benefit the Lynx.

Although Williams wasn't one of her team's top 3-point shooting threats, she had the wherewithal to step in when her team needed her. It was chaos at the end of the contest, with missed calls, physical play and turnovers on both sides.

Williams served as both an instigator for the opposition and a calming force for the Lynx.

“Courtney has been around for a while,” coach Cheryl Reeve said. “She played in finals and knew her team needed her to be aggressive.”