The WNBA playoff bracket is wide open after an unprecedented first-round upset. The New York Liberty eliminated the Minnesota Lynx with an 87-71 win on Tuesday night. By securing the Game 2 victory, New York became the first WNBA team to ever sweep a No. 1 seed in the opening round.
Minnesota didn't receive much of a reward for finishing the regular season with a league-best 33-11 record. The Lynx had another playoff run cut short in a 2024 Finals rematch against the Liberty, who fell to the No. 8 seed after losing their final two games to the Atlanta Dream. However, New York avoided its second consecutive first-round exit by dominating a formidable favorite.
The Liberty began the best-of-three series with a 91-75 win in Minneapolis, led by 34 points and 12 rebounds from Breanna Stewart. Stewart scored 21 more points on Tuesday, and Jonquel Jones joined her with 21 points and 13 boards. Sabrina Ionescu added 18 points and seven assists, giving a star-powered team renewed hopes of another title pursuit.
"We know we're not a traditional 8-seed," Ionescu said in a post-game interview on USA Today. "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 that we can be." Meanwhile, the Lynx shot 38% from the floor in Tuesday's elimination loss. Shortly after getting named the unanimous Rookie of the Year, Olivia Miles settled for five points in just 17 minutes. It's an abrupt ending for the Lynx, who had seven losses all season before losing six of their last eight games.
They'll watch as the Liberty face the Atlanta Dream or Washington Mystics in the semifinals.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
