WNBA FINALS: MINNESOTA VS. NEW YORK

October 18, 2024

Sandy Brondello

Breanna Stewart

Jonquel Jones

New York Liberty

Game 4: Postgame

Minnesota Lynx 82, New York Liberty 80

Q. Down the stretch, you get the offensive rebound late and decide to play through rather than call a timeout. What are you thinking there? What are you seeing in terms of where the offense is spaced?

SANDY BRONDELLO: Yeah, I actually was trying to call a timeout, but they didn't hear me. So that's on me. But yeah, you know, it wasn't our best possession. It was loud in here. I don't know, maybe I just have to sprint out in the middle of the court next time. So I've got to be better.

Q. Stewie, curious, what were the Lynx doing to guard you tonight that made it so difficult for you to put points on the board?

BREANNA STEWART: I mean, I think that I was going a little bit too fast. I just needed to slow down. They are sending multiple people when I'm slipping on a screen, stuff like that. A little bit better awareness on my part. But quick turnaround and be ready for Sunday.

Q. What was the plan on the last play? What was the shot you drew up and wanted?

SANDY BRONDELLO: With the two seconds? Yeah, it was like a little screen to get JJ to the block. If not, Sabrina had to come out. So with two seconds, we tried to establish the big girl down low. They defended it well.

Q. What does it mean for this team that two of your best shooters can shoot a combined, I believe it's 10 of 37 from the field, and yet you only fall by two? What does it mean about the status of this team, and what can that do for momentum going into Game 5?

SANDY BRONDELLO: Yeah, look, obviously they are great players. I think Stewie said it, we took some shots, we probably could have moved it a little bit more.

But look, I will say this, and I look at the thing here and I know Cheryl talked about it last time, but we got no calls today. So do I need to talk up in a press conference? Because they were getting ticky-tacks. And we went down there and got hit and get nothing. It was like 12-6 at halftime and they tried to even it up near the end. It was 14-9.

No. All we want is fair, okay. So if we are getting hit, that's a foul. You know, I'm one of the nicest bloody coaches in this league, but this pisses me off. Just be fair. You know, if they are getting hit, it's a bloody foul.

But in the end, close game. Things we could have done better. We all could have done better. Including me, getting that (expletive) timeout -- excuse me, don't repeat it.

Q. There have been big double-digits leads going into the half in the previous games. Why was it so hard for either team to create separation?

JONQUEL JONES: It's a close-out game. Their backs are against the wall and we are trying to win. It was going to be that type of game tonight where we are both trying to claw and both teams are trying to figure out whatever to do to get over the hump.

Q. Sandy, you have talked all year, and especially late in the year, about clinching the top overall seed, getting this opportunity to be able to play what's going to be this game in front of the home fans. How much of a comfort is that after a game like this, and how much does it feel like a reward, especially in this moment?

SANDY BRONDELLO: Yeah, that's what we said we worked for all season long. Minnesota did what they needed to do here to tie it up, and now we go back home. We love playing in front of our home crowd.

So it will definitely be another sellout, and it will definitely be loud. And we have to bring our "A" game.

I have a lot of respect for Minnesota, don't get me wrong. This is a really tough team, really tough team. They play well. They compete. So we've got one more game, and we're going to win on our home court.

Q. After the game, what did you all say to each other to keep each other uplifted but know you have to take care of business on Sunday?

BREANNA STEWART: Short-term memory. Just the fact that all that happened tonight is the series is even, and there's a Game 5, winner-take-all. We are going back to New York, and we're going to get it done. You know, getting it done there.

Q. You kind of just said it but you guys have been playing all season long, this journey from last year and losing ironically tonight a year ago, to play this, is it sort of fitting that you have a chance to win this first championship for New York at home on Sunday night?

BREANNA STEWART: Yeah, of course. We wanted to get it done tonight. But like Sandy said, our fans are like no other, and to be able to go into our environment on Sunday, know they have our backs. So whenever there are tough situations, whenever we're fighting through all of this adversity, we know we have the crowd behind us. That's just going to continue to motivate us. Yeah, can't wait for Sunday.

Q. For Breanna, to follow up on that, in terms of the momentum of this series, how difficult is that even for veteran players? The roller coaster continues. How do you disengage from that to do what you normally do?

BREANNA STEWART: I think that, you know, for our team, we bounce back after a loss really, really well, and making sure that everybody is on the same page going forward.

In the playoffs, in a series, there's going to be momentum shifts. There were momentum shifts in the game tonight. But mentally, understanding what's our ultimate goal, how are things going right here. Like Sandy said in the locker room, we haven't won anything yet; we haven't lost anything yet. And we have the opportunity to do that Sunday.