Kayla McBride

Unbothered individually by a Game Five that had quickly transitioned into a rough-shooting, defensively-focused slugfest, Kayla McBride determined that until the Minnesota Lynx could create separation on the scoreboards, such excellence would simply have to arrive on-court. A few well-executed possessions away from realizing the goal of becoming WNBA history’s first team to raise five championship banners through its rafters, the smooth-shooting four-time All-Star recognizes the moment’s magnitude, hunting out an isolation against Nyara Sabally. Sometimes a guard’s dream scenario if they’re crafty enough, McBride creates her own path through an assortment of hard-to-cover dribbles, ultimately finishing the deal with a momentum-shifting crossover and a finger roll at the rim. Transparent in admitting how badly she wanted victory during an early-game interview, McBride’s final box score confirmed as such, even during a heartbreaking defeat against the New York Liberty on October 20, 2024. Pairing recognizable defensive contributions with her always-reliable offensive play, McBride tallied 21 points (on 7-of-13 shooting) — noteworthy, considering the uncharacteristically-low-scoring elimination game — alongside five rebounds, five assists, four steals, and one 3-pointer.