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Liberty Sweep Lynx 2-0, First No. 8 Upset

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 10:30 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Liberty Upset Lynx

The New York Liberty swept the Minnesota Lynx 87-71 in Game 2, completing a 2-0 first-round upset.
The win made the Liberty the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in WNBA playoff history.
Jonquel Jones posted 21 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for New York in the clincher.
Breanna Stewart also scored 21 points, added five rebounds and four assists while playing all 40 minutes.

Summary

Wilson Confronts Fan

A'ja Wilson received a technical foul after confronting a fan in Game 2, prompting security to remove the spectator.
Coach Becky Hammon said arena officials, not the Aces, must enforce fan-code violations after the incident.
Napheesa Collier entered the playoffs at roughly 80 % health after two ankle surgeries, limiting her impact.
Rookie Olivia Miles, the unanimous Rookie of the Year, leaned on veterans for guidance in her first postseason.

History

Historical Context

In 1997 the WNBA began with eight franchises and the Houston Comets captured the first title, a 65-51 victory over the New York Liberty that showed competitive potential. That surprise upset set a precedent for lower-seed triumphs, echoed in 2024 when the No. 8 Liberty eliminated top-seed Minnesota Lynx in the first round. The league’s expansion to 15 teams by 2026 shows how competitive balance has grown.

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Liberty Upset Lynx

The New York Liberty swept the Minnesota Lynx 87-71 in Game 2, completing a 2-0 first-round upset.
The win made the Liberty the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in WNBA playoff history.
Jonquel Jones posted 21 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for New York in the clincher.
Breanna Stewart also scored 21 points, added five rebounds and four assists while playing all 40 minutes.

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