Historic WNBA Playoffs Sweep Sent New York Liberty Past Top-Seeded Minnesota Lynx
The New York Liberty became the first No. 8 seed in the 30-year history of the WNBA to eliminate a No. 1 seed, sweeping the Minnesota Lynx with an 87-71 victory in Game 2 of their playoff series. Jonquel Jones led the charge with 21 points and 13 rebounds, securing a historic advancement to the league semifinals.
According to justwomensports.com, the Liberty dominated from the opening tip by jumping out to an early 15-5 run and extending their advantage to 14 points by halftime. The victory marks a stark reversal from the previous season when New York lost in the opening round after taking a 1-0 series lead against Phoenix.
Playoff Intensity and the Turning Point in Game Two
Minnesota struggled to find an offensive rhythm throughout the contest, leading for just three minutes across the entire two-game series, as reported by justwomensports.com. The top-seeded Lynx entered the postseason with considerable momentum after Cheryl Reeve won Coach of the Year and Olivia Miles earned unanimous Rookie of the Year honors.
However, the Liberty utilized their physical size to disrupt Minnesota’s backcourt. Miles was limited to five points on 1-for-8 shooting in 17 minutes during Game 2 and spent most of the second half on the bench. New York maintained control even after a tense moment in the third quarter when Breanna Stewart was hit in the face by Miles while driving to the basket. Officials reviewed the play and upgraded it to a Flagrant-1 foul, sending Stewart to the free-throw line amid loud MVP chants from a sellout crowd of 17,593 fans.
Sabrina Ionescu added 18 points and seven assists for New York, sealing the quarter with a deep 3-pointer that snuffed out a late Minnesota rally. Courtney Williams paced the Lynx with 18 points, while Napheesa Collier contributed 14 points in the elimination loss.
New York Liberty Advance to WNBA Semifinals
The New York Liberty now advance to the best-of-five WNBA semifinals, which begin on Sunday. New York will face the winner of the quarterfinal series between the fourth-seeded Atlanta Dream and the sixth-seeded Washington Mystics. Atlanta held a 1-0 series lead heading into their next matchup in Washington.
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