The New York Liberty eliminated the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx with an 87-71 win on Tuesday, completing a two-game sweep in the first round of the 2026 WNBA playoffs. This result marked the first time a No. 8 seed has knocked out a No. 1 seed in the opening round, ending the Lynx’s season abruptly despite their status as favorites.
Minnesota fell behind early, trailing 9-1 within the opening minutes and falling into double digits by the five-minute mark. Although the Lynx fought back at intervals, they never led in the game. Their shooting woes persisted, with the team converting just 38.2% of their attempts. Courtney Williams led the Lynx with 18 points but required 17 shots to reach that total, while Napheesa Collier shot 14 times to score 14 points. Rookie Olivia Miles, the unanimous Rookie of the Year, struggled significantly, finishing with five points on 1-for-8 shooting and was benched midway through the third quarter after committing a flagrant foul on Breanna Stewart.
The Lynx closed the regular season with a 33-11 record, securing the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive year. They entered the playoffs as title favorites but failed to extend their postseason run beyond the first round for a second straight season. “New York is a great basketball team,” Williams said after the loss. “You dig a hole for yourself and try to get out of it. We wanted to go on a run, but they had answers for everything.”
The Liberty's core trio delivered decisive performances. Jonquel Jones posted 21 points and 13 rebounds, Breanna Stewart added 21 points with five rebounds and four assists, and Sabrina Ionescu contributed 18 points and seven assists. Their combined effort prevented the series from returning to Minnesota for a deciding game.
The Liberty now await their next opponent between the Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics, with Atlanta holding a 1-0 lead in that series ahead of Wednesday’s Game 2 in Washington, D.C.
Signs of trouble were evident for the Lynx before their playoff exit. Veteran guard Kayla McBride’s recent comments hinted at growing frustration. “I want to see the ‘F you’ about us,” she said in the final week of the regular season. “I don’t care about the outcomes, I don’t think, at this point. I’m more concerned about our ‘F you’ towards the other team. Just going and ripping people’s hearts out and taking momentum back and finishing games and putting hammers down.” Despite the blunt expression, it flagged a deeper issue as the Lynx stumbled to a 2-4 finish and barely clinched the top seed.
Coach Cheryl Reeve, named Coach of the Year for a record fifth time earlier this week, downplayed the pressure ahead of Game 2. “I’m already in the Hall of Fame. I feel no pressure,” she said. “I’ve run my race, and now I just want to be the best version of myself for the players.” The comment underscored a calm approach but was unlikely to inspire urgency given the elimination stakes and the Lynx’s recent history of early playoff exits.
The Liberty’s season had its own challenges. Free agent signing Satou Sabally played only 13 games before being ruled out for the season due to concussion symptoms. Ionescu and Leonie Fiebich missed significant time, and the team had to adjust to new coach Chris DeMarco’s system over the summer. Despite these hurdles, the Liberty finished 26-18, posting the best winning percentage for an eighth seed since the league adopted the top-eight playoff format in 2016.
Olivia Miles, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 draft, had a historic rookie season, breaking Caitlin Clark’s rookie scoring record, ranking top 10 in scoring and assists, earning an All-Star starting spot, and winning Rookie of the Year unanimously. However, Miles struggled against the Liberty in the regular season and playoffs. In three games versus New York this year, she averaged 19 points but shot just 32% from the field, her worst mark against any opponent. Against the Liberty in Game 2, she was benched after a flagrant foul on Stewart and finished with only five points.
The sweep by the Liberty ends the Lynx’s season at an unexpectedly early stage and sets up a second-round clash for New York against the winner of the Dream-Mystics series. The playoffs continue on Wednesday with Game 2 between Atlanta and Washington.
According to CBS.
