The Minnesota Lynx, the team that clawed its way to the top seed in the league, got eliminated from the playoffs on Tuesday, taking an 87-71 loss to the New York Liberty in Game 2 of their first-round series. What a brutal ending to a season that started with everyone writing them off and ended with them stunning the league to grab that No. 1 spot.
From Underdogs to Unstoppable
When training camp kicked off in April, the Lynx looked like a long shot for anything beyond a first-round playoff exit. Napheesa Collier was sidelined with ankle surgery, and six other key rotation players from their 34-10 run in 2025 were also out. The Liberty, their eventual playoff foes, were preseason title favorites, and the Lynx seemed like they had a mountain to climb. But then something wild happened. They ripped off an early eight-game winning streak, charging to a surprise 10-2 start. After July 12, they never let go of that No. 1 seed.
Their turnaround got even more unbelievable when Collier returned in a July 22 win against our very own Seattle Storm. That victory actually kicked off a separate, ten-game winning streak, the longest by any team in the entire league this season. A huge reason for that surge? Olivia Miles, the No. 2 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, who came out of nowhere to become one of the best point guards in the league. She was dishing and scoring like it was nothing, even earning a starting spot at the All-Star Weekend in Chicago. Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon called her “impossible to guard,” and she went on to shatter Caitlin Clark’s rookie points record, smash Lynx franchise rookie records for points and assists, and snagged the unanimous Rookie of the Year award. Veteran free agent additions Natasha Howard and Nia Brodie were also shining, with Howard making her first All-Star team since 2022 and forming a dynamite pick-and-roll duo with Miles. Brodie had one of her career-best seasons, providing crucial floor spacing and defense. Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams, another All-Star, were their rock-solid selves in the backcourt.
The Mojo Vanishes
Everything seemed to be going their way as the World Cup break approached, with the Lynx on the verge of locking up the No. 1 seed and homecourt advantage through the entire playoffs. But then, they hit a snag, losing their final game before the break to the No. 2 seed, the Golden State Valkyries. And after the break? It felt like their entire mojo vanished. They stumbled, losing four of their last six games to close out the regular season, backing into that No. 1 seed by the skin of their teeth. It got so bad that Kayla McBride, known for keeping it cool, dropped a rare, headline-making quote in the final week. She implored her team to show more of an “F you” mentality, saying, “I’m more concerned about our ‘F you’ towards the other team. Just going and ripping people’s hearts out and taking momentum back and…” That quote tells you everything you need to know about where their heads were at. Unfortunately, that killer instinct never materialized against the Liberty, and now they’re staring at an unexpected offseason.
So, what’s next for the Lynx after this shocking first-round exit as the league’s top team? The entire path forward hinges on one massive question mark: Napheesa Collier’s free agent decision. Her choice will dictate everything, from roster moves to the team’s entire outlook for next season. It’s a make-or-break moment for a team that showed flashes of brilliance but ended in a sudden, disappointing crash.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply