Collier’s basket gives Lynx Game 1 victory

WNBA FINALS

The New York Liberty’s Courtney Vandersloot, right, tries to drive past the Minnesota Lynx’s Courtney Williams during the first half in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday. PAMELA SMITH — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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NEW YORK >> Napheesa Collier’s turnaround jumper with 8.8 seconds left in overtime lifted the Minnesota Lynx to a 95-93 win over the New York Liberty in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday night.

With the game tied in OT, Collier faked in the lane and scored. New York had a chance to tie it but Breanna Stewart’s layup at the buzzer was off.

Courtney Williams had 23 points, Kayla McBride 22 and Collier 21 for Minnesota.

Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Sunday in New York. Before the game WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the league is expanding the Finals to best-of-seven starting next year.

The OT got off to a slow start before Minnesota built an 88-84 advantage as New York missed its first six shots. Jonquel Jones finally got the Liberty on the board with a corner 3-pointer with 1:38 left. Courtney Williams answered with her own 3-pointer and the teams traded baskets over the next minute. Sabrina Ionescu’s steal in the backcourt and layup got New York within 93-91 with 32.9 left.

Jones then stole the ball at midcourt and scored to tie it four seconds later. Minnesota worked the clock down before Collier’s basket broke the tie.

finals will expand to seven-game series >> The WNBA will expand its Finals next year to a best-of-seven format, the league announced Thursday.

The league currently has a best-of-five semifinals and finals in its playoffs with a best-of-three first round.

“This will give our fans a championship series format that they are accustomed to seeing in other sports,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said before Game 1 of the Finals.

Engelbert said the better seeded teams will host the first, second, fifth and seventh games. The league also will be changing the opening round to give the lower seeded team at least one home game. The higher seeded team will host Game 1, and 3 if it’s necessary. Currently the first round has the first two games at the better seeded team. All four of the first round series were sweeps this year.

The commissioner said that with the league using charter flights all season, including the playoffs, it makes it easier to travel back and forth between cities.