The No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx just got absolutely stunned, crashing out of the 2026 WNBA playoffs after an 87-71 loss to the No. 8 seed New York Liberty! This isn’t just any loss, folks. The Liberty completed a two-game sweep, becoming the first No. 8 seed *ever* to knock out a No. 1 seed in WNBA playoff history. Talk about a jaw-dropping upset.
Lynx Collapsed When it Counted Most
Forget momentum from their 33-11 regular season record that snagged them the top seed for the second year running. The Lynx, who were favorites to win the whole thing, just didn’t show up. They needed a huge response in Game 2 on Tuesday, especially after losing Game 1 at home on Sunday. What did they do instead? They fell behind 9-1 right out of the gate! Double-digit deficit within five minutes? Come on! While they clawed back a bit, they never led the game. Their team shooting percentage was a brutal 38.2%, and you just can’t win like that in the playoffs. Courtney Williams put up 18 points, but it took her a whopping 17 shots. Napheesa Collier needed 14 shots for her 14 points. And the unanimous Rookie of the Year, Olivia Miles? She managed just five points on 1 of 8 from the field, eventually getting benched in the third quarter after an unintentional flagrant foul. Yikes!
Liberty’s Big Three Delivered Big Time
While the Lynx were tripping over themselves, the Liberty’s Big Three came to play. They ensured this series wasn’t going back to Minnesota. Jonquel Jones was an absolute monster, racking up 21 points and 13 rebounds. Breanna Stewart, another superstar, matched her with 21 points, adding five rebounds and four assists. And Sabrina Ionescu? She dropped 18 points and dished out seven assists. That’s how you win a playoff series, especially when you’re making history! This dominant performance was a total rematch of the 2024 Finals, and the Liberty clearly came out with something to prove.
Now, the Liberty are moving on to face either the Atlanta Dream or the Washington Mystics. The Dream are up 1-0 in that series, with Game 2 going down on Wednesday night in D.C. For the Liberty, the goal is simple: keep that fire burning and show everyone this historic upset wasn’t a fluke. For the Lynx? They’re headed home early *again*, despite all that regular season success. What a tough pill to swallow.
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.
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