Stewart’s 34 points lifts Liberty over top-seeded Lynx in Game 1 upset

Breanna Stewart delivered an outstanding performance in the WNBA playoffs, scoring 34 points and grabbing 12 rebounds as the New York Liberty defeated the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 91-75 in Game 1. Stewart, the league's two-time MVP, also contributed six assists, two steals, and two blocks, shooting 11 for 18 from the floor. Her teammate Napheesa Collier, the 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, guarded her throughout the game.

Nia Brodie led the Lynx with 16 points in 19 minutes off the bench, while Kayla McBride added 14 points after missing her first five three-point attempts. In the other Game 1 matchup, A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces scored 38 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks, leading her team to a 96-89 win over the sixth-seeded Indiana Fever.

Wilson's impressive performance marked his third consecutive year as the WNBA Player of the Year. Despite facing a lower leg injury, Aliyah Boston contributed 18 points and eight rebounds for the Fever.