Without question, the series between the No. 8 seed New York Liberty and the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx had the makings of going the limit. However, New York possessed other plans as they swept Minnesota 2 – 0. This marked the first time the eighth seed defeated the one seed in WNBA Playoff history.
Game One saw the Liberty get the 91 – 75 road win at the Target Center over the Lynx. Here, two-time league MVP Breanna Stewart dominated with a double-double. The eight-time All-Star scored a game-high 34 points while grabbing 12 rebounds.
As a team, New York shot an astounding 52 percent from three-point range to Minnesota’s 34.6 percent. Forward Leonie Fiebich went four-of-five from beyond the arc for the Liberty. It’s important to note that the Lynx held a 44 – 40 lead over the Liberty at halftime. However, they were outscored 51 – 31 in the second half.
Credit: Getty images
Looking at Game Two, it was Liberty who closed out the series at the Barclays Center on Tuesday evening. The first half saw New York hold 12-point lead of 49 – 37 against Minnesota. In this instance, the Liberty never looked back, winning the game 87 – 71.
A major factor behind the victory was trio of Stewart, four-time All-Star guard Sabrina Ionescu, and six-time All-Star center Jonquel Jones. The trio accounted for 60 of the team’s 87 points, or 69 percent. Stewart and Jones each put 21 points as Jones notched a double-double with 13 boards. Ionescu scored 18 points while dishing out seven assists.
For the Lynx, guard Courtney Williams had 18 points as forwards Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier scored 14 apiece.
What is Next For the Liberty in the WNBA Playoffs?
Following the series win over the Lynx, the Liberty now turn their attention to the Atlanta Dream. Like New York, Atlanta swept their first round opponent in the Washington Mystics. Fans will be treated to the trio of Stewart, Ionescu, and Jones versus the triumvirate of the Dream.
That would be the Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese, four-time All-Star guards Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard. Furthermore, guard Jordin Canada and forwards DeWanna Bonner and Naz Hillmon are players to watch for head coach Karl Smesko’s squad.
Both teams faced off three times in the regular season as the Dream won two of those games, both at the Barclays Center. The series gets underway this upcoming Sunday at the State Farm Arena with a spot in the WNBA Finals on the line.
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