New York Liberty become first No. 8 seed to eliminate top seed in WNBA playoffs
The Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 87-71 to win the opening-round series, marking the first time an eighth seed has knocked out a No. 1 seed in WNBA playoff history.
The New York Liberty completed a 2-0 sweep of the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, winning the second game 87-71 at the Barclays Center and advancing to the semifinals. The victory ends the Lynx's season after they entered the postseason as the top seed with a 33-10 record and a roster that included Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles and Coach of the Year Cheryl Reeve.
In the series opener on Sunday, Liberty forward Breanna Stewart scored 34 points as New York took a 16-point road win. Tuesday's contest began with a 15-5 run by the Liberty, and they held a 14-point lead at halftime. Although Minnesota briefly narrowed the gap in the third quarter, a three-point shot by Sabrina Ionescu near the end of the period restored New York's momentum. The Liberty maintained control for the remainder of the game.
Liberty center Jonquel Jones contributed 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Stewart added another 21 points and Ionescu recorded 18 points with seven assists. For the Lynx, Courtney Williams led with 18 points and seven rebounds; Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride each scored 14.
The win makes the Liberty the first eighth seed to defeat a No. 1 seed since the WNBA adopted its current eight-team opening-round format in 2022. New York will face either the Atlanta Dream or Washington Mystics in a best-of-five semifinal series, with a chance to reach the Finals for a third time in four seasons. The Lynx are eliminated from the postseason.