Liberty become first No. 8 seed to beat No. 1 seed in WNBA playoffs, eliminate Lynx

NEW YORK — All season, the New York Liberty talked about the type of team they could be.

Explosive offensively.

Connected on defense.

A well-oiled machine on a collision course with their second WNBA title in three years.

They showed glimpses of it. Including during a stretch in late May and early June that led to their Commissioner’s Cup title. But for the rest of the regular season, they were an inconsistent shell of that team.

This week a new season started, the postseason, and that brought with it a new Liberty team. New York got contributions from everyone, as first-year coach Chris DeMarco said it needed, in ta historic 87-71 first-round Game 2 win over the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx. The Liberty became the first No. 8 seed in WNBA playoff history to down the No. 1 seed.

Right out of the gate, the Liberty’s offense was operating at full tilt. They jumped to a 9-1 lead, forcing Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve to call the first timeout of the game three minutes in.

The Liberty’s Big Three were gargantuan. Jonquel Jones had a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Sabrina Ionescu found a rhythm she’s been desperately searching for, going 4-of-10 shooting from 3-point range to finish with 18 points to go with seven assists. Breanna Stewart did what she’s been trusted to from Day 1: all of it.

She had 21 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks playing all 40 minutes.

New York never trailed.

For the second consecutive game, Lynx guard Olivia Miles — the unanimous 2026 Rookie of the Year — showed her youth. She struggled to handle the Liberty’s pressure at the rim and never found the magic she’s became known to conjure. Reeve ended up going to Aari McDonald in the second half, leaving Miles to watch her team come undone from the bench.

She finished with 5 points, two rebounds and one assist in just 17 minutes on the floor.

Napheesa Collier looked human, too. She struggled to defend against New York’s length and size, picking up five fouls which the Liberty exploited. She finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Courtney Williams led the Lynx with 18 points and Kayla McBride added 14 points.

The question facing the Liberty now is who they’ll face in the second round between the Atlanta Dream and the Washington Mystics. The Lynx must confront a much heavier uncertainty: Will Napheesa Collier be back in 2027?

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, WNBA

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