Full Breakdown
Liberty’s Historic Sweep Ends Lynx’s Title Hopes
By Drooid · · How we work
The Upset in Detail
On September 29, 2026, the New York Liberty (No. 8 seed) completed a two-game sweep of the Minnesota Lynx (No. 1 seed) in the first round of the WNBA playoffs, winning Game 2 87–71 at Barclays Center. Jonquel Jones posted 21 points and 13 rebounds; Breanna Stewart added 21 points, five rebounds and four assists. Sabrina Ionescu contributed 18 points and seven assists. Minnesota’s leading scorer, Courtney Williams, had 18 points, but the Lynx were held to 71 total points.
Background & Context
The Lynx entered the postseason with a league-best 33-11 record, the No. 1 seed for the second straight year, built around Rookie of the Year guard Olivia Miles (19.8 pts, 6.0 ast). The Liberty finished 26-18, the strongest winning percentage ever posted by an eighth seed since the 2016 format change, relying on a “Big Three” of Stewart, Jones and Ionescu, plus veterans Han Xu and Marine Johannès.
Data & Statistics
- Final score: Liberty 87, Lynx 71 (Game 2)
- Series result: Liberty 2–0 sweep
- Key individual stats (Game 2):
- Jonquel Jones – 21 pts, 13 reb
- Breanna Stewart – 21 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast
- Sabrina Ionescu – 18 pts, 7 ast
- Olivia Miles – 5 pts (1-for-7), flagrant-1 foul on Stewart
- Courtney Williams – 18 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast
Official Statements & Responses
Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, newly named Coach of the Year, said, “When was the last time a rookie led the first-place team? Never happened before.” She added, “We did a solid job in the first half and then we just fouled, fouled, fouled. You can’t give [Stewart] 12 free throws.” Both coaches noted the Liberty’s size and rim protection.
On-the-Ground Reports
The sellout crowd of 17,593 gave Stewart a standing ovation after a flagrant-1 foul. Liberty length forced Miles into low-percentage shots; she attempted only 3.5 rim attempts in the series (14.3 % conversion) versus her regular-season 56.7 % rate.
Criticism & Opposition
Veteran Lynx forward Kayla McBride said, “I want to see the ‘F you’ about us,” reflecting frustration with the team’s late-season edge.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree on the final score and key stats, but differ on Miles’ regular-season rim attempts: one analysis cites 319 attempts (56.7 % success), another notes a drop to 3.5 attempts per game in the series (14.3 % success).
Verbatim Quotes
- “It feels good, we understand who we are as a team,” — Jonquel Jones
- “We feel like we can play with anybody and beat anybody.” — Breanna Stewart
- “As I told her. When was the last time a rookie led the first-place team? Never happened before,” — Cheryl Reeve
- “I want to see the 'F you' about us,” — Kayla McBride
- “New York is a great basketball team,” — Courtney Williams
What’s Next
The Liberty advance to the semifinals to face the winner of the Atlanta Dream–Washington Mystics series, with games beginning October 4. Minnesota’s season ends with a historic first-round exit, prompting offseason questions about roster composition and coaching adjustments.