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

A'ja Wilson was the MVP of the game. Caitlin Clark was a debutante. Napheesa Collier the best defensive player of the year. Liberty is a 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 Connecticut. Suni finished Game 5 with 24 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds. It was a heroic effort by the Minnesota guard, but ultimately it was nothing compared to what she accomplished on Thursday night in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.

Since high school, Williams has excelled at playing midrange. It's as much about her identity as her platinum blonde hairstyle. She was called the “Mistress of the Middle” and the “Monster of the Middle.” By the way, she doesn't mind both nicknames.

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

He makes more long 2-point shots than anyone else in the WNBA. But just because this is her signature photo doesn't mean it's her only photo.

On Thursday, it secured victory with three-pointers in a 95-93 overtime victory over favored New York Liberty, which squandered a record 18-point lead in the final.

The Lynx were in the midst of a huge comeback after cutting the deficit to 68-61 early in the fourth quarter. However, late in the game, Liberty still held a three-point lead. Thanks to one play, Williams gave her team the lead with 5.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

She rose on the wing and scored three points over Sabrina Ionescu, who was also whistled for a foul. Williams then stepped to the line and calmly completed a four-point game.

Then, after Breanna Stewart's free throw sent the teams to overtime, Williams hit another clutch three-pointer. This one came with 1:16 left in overtime and the Lynx led 91-87.

Both shots were assisted by Alanna Smith, who was part of a Lynx team that prioritized Williams getting the ball.

“It just shows how much we trust each other,” Williams said. “We have so many great three-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 shots (2 of 6 from 3), 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

Tears of happiness have been a constant presence for Williams since she signed with the Lynx in the offseason. He has been in the league since 2016, playing for five different organizations, but none of them felt like the Lynx.

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

“I like it here,” she said. “I say it all the time and I don't just say it for fun. These people, who I am, we believe in ourselves very much. This is crazy, man. I'm just happy to be here.”

Williams has played in the Finals before, with Connecticut in 2019 and 2022. She lost both times, but her postseason experience is helping the Lynx.

Even though Williams wasn't one of her team's top three-point shooting threats, she had enough resources to step up when her team needed her. By the end of the competition there was chaos, missed calls, physical play and losses on both sides.

Williams was both an instigator of his opponent and a calming force for the lynx.

“Courtney has been on the team for a while,” coach Cheryl Reeve said. “She was in the final games and knew her team needed her to play aggressively.”