An emotional roller coaster of a game ended in euphoria for the Minnesota Lynx.

Napheesa Collier scored on a 12-foot fadeaway jumper with 9.3 seconds left in overtime and the Lynx pulled off an astonishing comeback to stun New York 95-93 in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.

The last six teams to win the first game of the finals have gone on to win the title.

Collier finished with 21 points, one fewer than Kayla McBride and two fewer than Courtney Williams, who was clutch down the stretch, including five points in overtime.

Breanna Stewart missed a layup at the buzzer for New York, preventing a second overtime.

Minnesota tied the WNBA record for largest comeback in finals history.

Game 2 is Sunday afternoon back in Brooklyn with Game 3 scheduled Wednesday in Minneapolis.

Down by 18 early in the second quarter, the Lynx got within two points a couple times in the third quarter, fell behind by 15 midway through the fourth quarter yet rallied to get within one possession in the final minute.

The excitement was far from over.

Fast forward to Williams missing a 3-point shot with 9.4 seconds left. Alanna Smith snagged an offensive rebound and passed out to Williams, whose 3-pointer went through the net and she was fouled by Sabrina Ionescu.

Her free throw capped an 18-2 Minnesota run to give the Lynx their first lead of the game at 84-83.

And, still, hearts continued to beat faster.

Collier blocked a shot by Stewart at the other end, but the ball went out of bounds with 1 second left. Ionescu inbounded to Stewart between Smith and Collier, and Collier was whistled for a foul on Stewart with 0.8 seconds to go, a call upheld by video review.

Stewart made her first free throw but missed her second. Williams’ last-second jumper was off the mark.

A 3-point play by Natisha Hiedeman got the Lynx within 68-64 early in the fourth quarter, but four players scored in a 13-2 Liberty answer before McBride and Hiedeman scored from deep to get the Lynx within 81-72 with 3:41 to play.

League schedule, playoff changes for 2025

Beginning next season, the WNBA Finals will expand to a best-of-seven series with a 2-2-1-1-1 format. “This will give our fans a championship series format that they are accustomed to seeing in other sports,” Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said before the game.

The first round will remain a best-of-three; however, it will be a 1-1-1 format replacing a format that had the first two games at the higher seed and third, if necessary, at the lower seed.

The second round will remain a best-of-five.

Additionally, the regular season will expand from 40 to 44 games.

“The league’s growth and increased demand for WNBA basketball made this the ideal time to expand the schedule, lengthen the Finals and provide fans more opportunities to see the best players in the world compete at the highest level,” Engelbert said.