Liberty Stun Lynx in Historic First-Round WNBA Playoff Upset
The New York Liberty swept the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx in the opening round with an 87-71 win on Tuesday.
The WNBA playoff bracket witnessed an unprecedented first-round upset as the New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx with an 87-71 score on Tuesday night. This marked the first time a No. 1 seed had been swept in the opening round by a lower seed. Minnesota's regular season record of 33-11 did not yield any playoff consolation.
The Lynx experienced another playoff elimination after suffering a 2024 Finals defeat to the Liberty. The Liberty, however, avoided consecutive first-round exits by overpowering a strong favorite. In the series opener, New York secured a 91-75 victory in Minneapolis, spearheaded by Breanna Stewart's 34 points and 12 rebounds. Stewart added 21 more points on Tuesday, with Jonquel Jones contributing 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Sabrina Ionescu contributed 18 points and seven assists. The Liberty's star-studded roster is hopeful of reclaiming the title. Ionescu emphasized, "We know we're not a traditional 8-seed. We understand once the playoffs come, it's a new season. We got to do what we got to do. We got to come out, turn the page, and be the best team we can be."
Meanwhile, Minnesota's Lynx struggled, shooting only 38% from the field in their elimination loss. Rookie Olivia Miles contributed just five points in 17 minutes. For the Lynx, this marked an abrupt end to their season, following seven losses all year before losing six of their last eight games. They will now observe as the Liberty face Atlanta Dream or Washington Mystics in the semifinals.
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