The New York Liberty are peaking at the right time. In Game 2 of the WNBA quarterfinals on Tuesday night, the No. 8 seed defeated the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx 87‑71, completing a historic sweep and becoming the first eighth‑seeded team to eliminate a top seed in the league’s 30‑year history.
Key performances
Jonquel Jones led the way with a double‑double, scoring 21 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. Breanna Stewart matched Jones with 21 points, while Sabrina Ionescu added 18. For Minnesota, Courtney Williams topped the Lynx with 18 points, and Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride each contributed 14.
Game flow
New York built an early lead, up five points after the first quarter and extending the margin to 40‑35 with 2:39 left in the half. The Liberty finished the second quarter on a 9‑point run, entering halftime ahead 49‑37. In the third quarter, the Liberty stretched the lead to 52‑39 before a moment of drama: Stewart drove to the basket, was struck in the face by a blocking attempt from rookie Olivia Miles, and was briefly reviewed for a Flagrant‑1 foul. Stewart returned to the floor, raised his hands to a sell‑out crowd of 17,593, and sank both free throws.
From that point, the Lynx could not close the gap, never getting closer than seven points. Minnesota’s rookie Miles struggled, scoring five points on 1‑of‑8 shooting in 17 minutes, while the Liberty’s size and rim protection limited her impact.
Coaches’ reactions
Liberty forward Jones said, “It feels good, we understand who we are as a team. We’re not listening to outside noise. We can play with anybody and beat anybody. It feels good to make history.” Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, who was named Coach of the Year, offered encouragement to Miles, noting that a rookie leading a first‑place team had never happened before.
Looking ahead
The Liberty now await the winner of the Atlanta‑Washington series. The Dream hold a 1‑0 lead and will travel to Washington for Game 2 on Wednesday night. The WNBA semifinals are slated to begin Sunday.
Last season, New York fell in the first round after taking a 1‑0 lead against Phoenix. Determined not to repeat that outcome, the Liberty’s disciplined play and veteran leadership propelled them to this unprecedented achievement.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
