How Sandy Brondello navigated a tricky Game 5 for a second WNBA title

Australian Sandy Brondello etched her way into the WNBA history books on Monday when she guided New York Liberty to its first-ever championship.

After five unsuccessful attempts, including a disappointing 3-1 loss to Las Vegas last year, the foundation franchise came from 12 points down to overcome Minnesota Lynx in an overtime thriller which fittingly decided the most epic of series.

It is Brondello's second WNBA title as a head coach, she lifted the trophy with Phoenix Mercury in her first year with the franchise in 2014.

In a game where the Liberty trailed by double digits, were often stifled on offence and didn't make a three pointer until under 3.30 to go in the fourth quarter, Brondello placed faith in her bench -- and they repaid her in spades.

With superstar duo Breanna Stewart[4-of-15 from the field and 0-3 from deep] , and Sabrina Ionescu[1-of-19 from the field and 1-10 from deep], struggling to assert their usual dominance on the contest, Brondello injected 24-year-old German national and Paris Olympian Nyara Sabally into the decider.

The 196cm forward had limited opportunities throughout the season but often provided a spark and always applied herself at both ends of the court when her coach gave her the nod.

And it was cometh the moment, cometh Nyara who turned the game on its head, as she helped stall Minnesota's momentum and force the game to a fifth period.

Sabally's 17 minutes and 27 seconds court time conjured 13 timely points and seven big boards, and energy a stat sheet can't record.

The other spark plug came in the form of Kayla Thornton, a tough, imposing figure well known to an Australian audience.

Thornton, who was an import for the Southside Flyers in 2022-23 and ran second in the Suzy Batkovic Medal for league MVP in the same season, was huge defensively and took it upon herself to curb Minesota superstar Napheesa Collier with her close checking and elite footwork.

While Stewart's late free throws, just minutes after she missed both shots from the line, propelled New York into extra time, and Jonquel Jones poured in 17 points, this was a game that would decide a trophy nearly three decades in the making, and those in the supporting roles stepped into the spotlight among a team of box office names.

Aussie Alanna Smith battled through a painful back injury, as told to ESPN on Sunday, and copped several big knocks but fought on knowing how important her role was to the Lynx's championship hopes.