The New York Liberty swept the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 87-71 on Tuesday night at Barclays Center, becoming the first No. 8 seed in WNBA history to eliminate a No. 1 seed in a postseason series under the league’s current format.
The win completed a two-game sweep and marked the first time a No. 8 seed has ousted a No. 1 seed in the league’s 30-year history, following the league’s 2022 shift to the current playoff format where the top eight teams meet in the quarterfinals.
New York Liberty Stars Deliver Historic Sweep
New York’s star trio established control early and never relented. Jonquel Jones led the charge with 21 points and 13 rebounds, anchoring an interior presence that continually frustrated the Lynx frontcourt. Breanna Stewart matched her with 21 points, adding five rebounds and four assists, while Sabrina Ionescu chipped in 18 points and seven assists.
The Liberty entered the postseason determined to avoid a repeat of the previous year, when they dropped a first-round series to Phoenix after winning the opener. That focus showed immediately in Game 2 in front of a sellout crowd of 17,593, as New York built a 49-37 halftime advantage after closing the second quarter on a 9-2 run, fueled by physical play and relentless rebounding.
“Close-out game. The mentality has to go up a notch. The physicality has to go up a notch. The intensity has to go up a notch”
Jonquel Jones, via USA Today
Minnesota Lynx Season Ends in Shocking Early Exit
For Minnesota, the defeat brought an abrupt end to a stellar campaign. The Lynx finished the regular season with a 33-11 record to claim the top seed for the second season in a row, entering the playoffs as the title favorites. Yet, despite holding home-court advantage for Game 1 on Sunday in Minneapolis, they struggled to generate any offensive rhythm against New York’s length and defensive rotations.
Courtney Williams led the Lynx with 18 points on 17 shots, while Napheesa Collier added 14 points on 14 shots along with seven rebounds. But Minnesota shot just 38.2% from the field as a team and could never close the gap below seven points in the second half.
The series also proved difficult for rookie guard Olivia Miles. Just a day after being named the unanimous WNBA Rookie of the Year, Miles was limited to five points on 1-of-8 shooting in Game 2. Her night ended prematurely in the third quarter when she was called for a Flagrant 1 foul after making contact with Stewart’s face on a fast-break layup attempt, leading to a benching.
WNBA Semifinal Matchups Take Shape
With the sweep secured, the Liberty advance directly to the WNBA semifinals, which begin on Sunday, October 4, 2026. New York will face the winner of the quarterfinal series between the Atlanta Dream and the Washington Mystics, with the Dream holding a 1-0 lead ahead of Wednesday night’s game in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, the Lynx head into an offseason marked by questions regarding roster continuity, most notably the future contract status of Collier, even as head coach Cheryl Reeve secured a record fifth Coach of the Year award earlier in the week.
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