New York wins first WNBA championship after falling in previous five appearances in the Finals

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Liberty have their first WNBA championship after falling in the title round in their previous five appearances.

An original franchise when the league tipped off in 1997, the Liberty have competed in a one-game, best-of-three and best-of-five format. It took a little extra time to do it, as New York needed five games and OT to beat Minnesota.

Here's a look at their previous appearances in the championship:

The Liberty lost the inaugural championship as they had no answer for league MVP Cynthia Cooper. She scored 14 of her 25 points in the second half — the league played two halves back then. The Comets used a 10-0 run to open up a tight game. Tina Thompson added 18 points in the 65-51 win. Kym Hampton had 13 points and 13 rebounds to lead New York.

The 1999 Finals were the most competitive of the three meetings between Houston and New York with the Liberty forcing three games. New York lost the opener at home and were faced with the daunting task of needing to win two games in Houston for the title. All looked lost when Thompson banked in a shot with 2.4 seconds left to give the Comets a 67-65 lead. Teresa Weatherspoon took the inbounds pass and dribbled to halfcourt and heaved the ball up, banking it in at the buzzer to even the best-of-three series with Houston. The Liberty lost to the Comets by 12 points less than 24 hours later in the deciding game.

The third time wasn't the charm for the Liberty, falling to Houston for the third time in four years. The Liberty lost the opener at home, getting behind early. They were down 29-22 at the break and then 10 early in the second half before cutting it to 52-50 on two free throws by Weatherspoon with 52 seconds left. Unfortunately, Cooper answered with a three-point play 26 seconds later. New York gave it all it had in Game 2 before falling in overtime. The back-and-forth game saw New York leading 64-61 with 21 seconds left before Cooper hit a game-tying 3-pointer. In overtime, Sue Wicks hit a 3-pointer with 2:14 left to give New York a 70-69 lead before Houston scored 10 of the final 13 points to seal the title.

New York lost Game 1 at home despite 18 points from Becky Hammon. In Game 2, the game was tied with 2.1 seconds left before Nikki Teasley hit a 3-pointer to give the Sparks the lead. Weatherspoon tried to hit another halfcourt shot at the buzzer, but her shot was blocked and the Sparks won their second consecutive title, a feat that wouldn't be matched until the Las Vegas Aces did it in 2022 and 2023.

Set the foundation for this year's championship. The Liberty started on the road, dropping the first two games to Las Vegas before returning home. They won the third game and it looked like the tide had turned in their favor with injuries to Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes. New York was down 70-64 with 1:27 left before rallying to within one. They couldn't get over the hump.

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FILE - New York Liberty's Rebecca Lobo, left, Tari Phillips, center, and Teresa Weatherspoon watch from the bench in the final seconds against the Houston Comets in Game 2 of the WNBA Championship game, Aug. 26, 2000, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)

FILE - New York Liberty's Teresa Weatherspoon, bottom, and Kym Hampton battle against Houston Comets Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes for a loose ball during the first half in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, Sept. 5, 1999, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

FILE - New York Liberty players from left, Crystal Robinson, Rebecca Lobo, who is injured, and Becky Hammon sit on the bench as the Liberty fall behind during the first half against the Houston Comets in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, Sept. 4, 1999, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

FILE - Las Vegas Aces' Kelsey Plum, right, defends New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu during the second half in Game 4 of a WNBA basketball final playoff series, Oct. 18, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

FILE - The Las Vegas Aces celebrate after Game 4 of a WNBA basketball final playoff series against the New York Liberty, Oct. 18, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

FILE - New York Liberty players sit on the bench as they trail the Las Vegas Aces in the final minute during the second half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball final playoff series, Oct. 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

New York Liberty forward Kayla Thornton (5) hugs guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) after the Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series to win the championship, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones, left, holds up the MVP award after the Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

NEW YORK (AP) — Broadway vs. Hollywood. Subway vs. Freeway. Judge vs. Ohtani.

New York neighbors who became cross-country rivals, the Yankees and Dodgers renew their starry struggle in the World Series for the first time in 43 years.

“When you’re playing for the Dodgers and playing for the Yankees, it better feel different,” LA manager Dave Roberts said at Yankee Stadium last June. “If not, you better do something different for a profession.”

Two of baseball’s most successful teams face each other starting Friday at Dodger Stadium, the Yankees coming off their 41st American League pennant and the Dodgers their 25th National League championship. New York is seeking its 28th World Series title but first since 2009, the Dodgers their eighth and second in a five-year span.

Yankees pinstripes vs. Dodgers Pantone 294. The Bronx Bombers vs. the Dem Bums’ descendants. The granite-and-limestone of new Yankee Stadium on chilly autumn nights vs. Dodger Stadium in sunny Chavez Ravine, with the San Gabriel Mountains beyond the pavilions.

New York is 8-3 against the Dodgers in the most frequent World Series matchup, including 6-1 against Brooklyn and 2-2 since the rivalry became Big Apple against Tinseltown.

Mickey Owen, Al Gionfriddo, Cookie Lavagetto, Sandy Amoros, Johnny Podres, Don Larsen, Sandy Koufax and Reggie Jackson created indelible images in the matchup, which started in 1941 with one of the wackiest World Series turns.

Trailing 2-1 in the Series, Brooklyn led 4-3 with two outs in the ninth inning at Ebbets Field when Tommy Henrich swung and missed at strike three from Hugh Casey. The ball bounced away from Owen and rolled toward the Dodgers dugout as Henrich reached on the dropped third strike. Joe DiMaggio singled, Charlie Keller hit a two-run double and Joe Gordon added a two-run double later in the inning as the Yankees won 7-4 and went on to win the title in five games.

Lavagetto’s two-out, pinch walk-off double in the ninth ended Bill Bevens’ no-hit bid in 1947’s Game 4 and two games later Gionfriddo robbed DiMaggio of a tying three-run homer.

New York beat the Dodgers again in 1949 and 1952 and 1953, frustrating the fans in Flatbush, but Brooklyn finally won the title in 1955 when Johnny Podres pitched a Game 7 shutout at Yankee Stadium and Gil Hodges drove in both runs. Sandy Amoros preserved the lead when he made a running catch of Yogi Berra’s drive in the left-field corner with two on and relayed to shortstop Pee Wee Reese, who threw to Hodges at first and doubled up Gil McDougald. Those players were celebrated in Roger Kahn’s 1972 book “The Boys of Summer.”

Don Larsen pitched the World Series’ only perfect game in 1956’s fifth game in the Bronx, Berra jumping into his arms after the final out, and the Yankees won Game 7 behind Johnny Kucks’ three-hit shutout in what turned out to be the last World Series game at Ebbets Field.

Walter O’Malley moved the Dodgers to California after the 1957 season, and Koufax had an interlocking “LA” on his cap instead of a “B when he struck out a then-Series record 15 in the 1963 opener at Yankee Stadium. The rivalry didn’t resume until 1977 with the first of three matchups in a five-year span.

Jackson’s three home runs led the Yankees to a clinching win in 1977’s Game 6. The Yankees won another six-game Series the following year, highlighted by third baseman Graig Nettles’ diving stops on Reggie Smith, Steve Garvey and Davey Lopes.

Los Angeles lost the first two games in the Bronx in 1981, and then won four in a row — capped by a 9-2 victory that had Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda dancing. The defeat prompted Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, his right hand bandaged after an alleged fight with Dodgers fans in a hotel elevator, to issue a written apology “to the people of New York and to the fans of the New York Yankees everywhere.”

Both teams feel the history created by their predecessors.

“You put that jersey on and those pinstripes, it just feels different,” Yankees slugger Juan Soto said.

Los Angeles took two of three when they met in a much-hyped series in June.

Roberts is reminded of the history when he approaches Dodger Stadium.

“I can’t believe I’m driving up Vin Scully Way, when I go to work,” he said. “It’s overwhelming, but I try not to let my head go there too often; I just try to do my job.”

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Los Angeles Dodgers memorabilia is seen near the Dodgers clubhouse, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)