Washington Freedom capped off an exceptional season by securing the MLC 2024 victory with another commanding display in the final at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. The league’s top two teams had each won a game against the other in the lead-up, with the San Francisco Unicorns successfully chasing down a target of 177 in just 14 overs in their initial clash. However, during the decisive final, the Unicorns were overwhelmed after conceding 207/5. The Freedom, setting a season-high total, dominated their opponents to win by a staggering 96 runs—the largest margin of victory by runs this season—with Marco Jansen and Rachin Ravindra both taking three wickets.
The MLC 2024 victory was significantly influenced by captain Steve Smith, who added 88 runs to his season tally, reaching 336 runs at an impressive strike rate of 148.67. Despite the Freedom’s top-order struggles, including a less impactful innings from his usual opening partner, Travis Head, Smith anchored the innings. He faced a challenging start but gradually accelerated, making effective use of the pitch and weather conditions. Smith’s 34-ball half-century provided the foundation for the Freedom to post a formidable total. Glenn Maxwell’s arrival further bolstered the innings, with both Australians scoring heavily to set an imposing target. Despite some late resistance from the Unicorns, their chase faltered early, and the Freedom’s bowlers dismantled their lineup to secure a memorable victory.
Brief scores: Washington Freedom 207/5 in 20 overs (Steve Smith 88, Glenn Maxwell 40; Pat Cummins 2-35) beat San Francisco Unicorns 111 in 16 overs (Rachin Ravindra 3-23, Marco Jansen 3-28, Andrew Tye 2-12) by 96 runs.