In the end, there was Maya Moore.
After a game of frustration, after sitting for much of the game in foul trouble, there was Moore, holding her follow through on a three pointer that barely beat the buzzer, watching the ball settle through the net like so many shots in her career.
In the end, there was Maya Moore, making the game winner, leading the Lynx to an 80-77 win in game three of the WNBA Finals, sending the Lynx to within one win of a third title in five years. The Maya Moore era.
This was an epic basketball game, and if you missed it because you don't care about women's basketball, I feel sorry for you. It was intense from the opening tip, with fierce defense, aggressive play making, and huge, momentum changing plays throughout.
The Lynx got off to a strong start behind Moore and Sylvia Fowles, who has been a force on the glass and offensively when she's been able to get the ball. But two fouls by Moore sent her to the bench, and another early in the 2nd quarter sat her fown for the rest of the half, and the Fever took over behind a red hot Shenise Johnson, who scored 14 in the half on 6-7 from the floor. The Fever took a four point lead into the locker room.
When Moore committed her 4th foul early in the third, it looked grim for the Lynx, but Seimone Augustus and Renee Montgomery stepped up for the Lynx in the quarter and led them to a two point lead heading to the 4th.
Moore needs to bring this one home like an MVP.
— canishoopus (@canishoopus) October 10, 2015
And it looked like she would when she hit a contested 2 and a cold blooded pull up 3 to start the 4th. But nothing was going to come easy in this one, and the Fever quickly answered behind series star Briann January, shooter Marissa Coleman, and franchise icon Tamika Catchings.
And so it went. Back and forth. Eventually the Fever took a three point lead and appeared to have momentum. But. Renee Montgomery, who finished with 12 points off the bench, made a monster three to tie, one of several huge plays she made throughout.
An exchange of misses led to a final Fever possession, which was brilliantly defended, and the Lynx wound up with the ball and 1.7 seconds left.
Lindsay Whalen, who has looked, frankly, done during this series, inbounded the ball for the final shot.
And in the end, there was Maya Moore. Posing as the ball nestled through the net, giving the Lynx a crucial game three win.