The German national basketball players Leonie Fiebich and Nyara Sabally won the WNBA championship. The two and their team New York Liberty prevailed in the decisive fifth final of the North American Elite League at home with 67:62 (27:34, 60:60) after overtime against the Minnesota Lynx. The Germans played a key role in the triumph in a thrilling finish, scoring five of New York’s seven points in extra time. In the best-of-five final series, New York won 3-2.
League newcomers Fiebich and Sabally each scored 13 points and seven rebounds in the decisive final game. New York’s best thrower was Jonquel Jones with 17 points, who was also named best player in the final series.
The New York hosts were behind until the 27th minute of the game, with a difference of up to twelve points in the first half. The comeback was successful in the third quarter, also thanks to Sabally: The 24-year-old scored nine points in the last three and a half minutes of the period. Breanna Stewart saved the Liberty into overtime with two free throws five seconds before the end of regulation time.
Completion of a successful year for Fiebich and Sabally
For WNBA founding member New York with star players Sabrina Ionescu and Stewart, it was the first title win in the sixth attempt. The team had previously lost a playoff series five times, most recently last year against the Las Vegas Aces.
With their triumph, the two Germans Fiebich and Sabally are following in the footsteps of Marlies Askamp, who was the only German to win the title in the US professional league with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2002. For Fiebich and Sabally, the triumph represents the glorious end to a highly successful year. With the national team they unexpectedly qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris and reached the quarter-finals there.
