MINNEAPOLIS — It’s amazing what happens when owners are willing to invest.

The WNBA Finals of 2024 are heading to a decisive Game 5 on Sunday in New York City. This follows the Minnesota Lynx’s narrow 82-80 victory at the Target Center on Friday night, a game that was intensely competitive. This is the first time since 2019 that the Finals will go the full five games.

It’s fitting that in a series where three out of four games have been decided by just one possession — with Game 2 being an exception where the Liberty won by 14 points — we’re experiencing the entire Finals atmosphere this year.

This outcome also reflects the incredible year the WNBA has had, with record-breaking television ratings, attendance numbers, and merchandise sales. It’s only right that the top two teams deliver a spectacular performance.

This is what investment in women’s sports can achieve.

The Liberty, branded as a super-team through free agency, boasts such a powerhouse roster that after acquiring MVPs Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve remarked that the Lynx had to adapt strategically due to the overwhelming talent of the Liberty. Therefore, Minnesota built a team from overlooked players, focusing their strategy around the often underappreciated standout, Napheesa Collier. With exceptional coaching by Reeve, they have reached this point.

In many respects, these two teams are distinct from one another. Yet, a clear similarity stands out: Both are managed by individuals willing to financially support their teams.

Historically, the WNBA was often viewed more as a tax write-off than a legitimate business, with many owners hesitant to invest capital. As a result, teams collapsed, and players competed in poorly maintained facilities located far from major cities. Fans frequently struggled to find merchandise for their favorite players — and the issues continued.

However, things began to change when coaches and players called for better conditions, prompting some owners to take action. Reeve shared with YSL News Sports earlier this week, “We pulled this organization to its current status. We truly pulled them.” More than once, she has been labeled “difficult” by members within Minnesota’s organization who disagreed with her demands for improvement.

Despite this, they listened to her, and she rewarded them with four championships, with the potential for a fifth in the near future.

The 2024 season marks Reeve’s first as the president of basketball operations for the Lynx, following five years as general manager. Working alongside current GM Clare Duwelius, and with the backing of owner Glen Taylor, the Lynx assembled a team they believed could contend for titles.

In New York, owners Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai purchased the Liberty in 2019, moving the team from Westchester County to Brooklyn. They committed from the beginning to spend on their WNBA franchise just as they do for their NBA team, the Brooklyn Nets. Their dedication was so strong that they accepted a $500,000 penalty for arranging charter flights for the team in 2022 before it was allowed by the league.

When they opted to build the team around the 2020 No. 1 draft pick, Sabrina Ionescu, and recruit top talent through free agency, it caught the attention of players across the league.

As a result, we now have two highly competitive teams showcasing one of the finest Finals series in the history of the WNBA.

After Game 1, attended by a record crowd, Sandy Brondello stated that the true winner in these Finals is women’s basketball. Reeve echoed this sentiment on Friday, acknowledging that “all of the investments” made led to this moment.

We are fortunate to witness this.