The WNBA playoffs have already delivered one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 season.
The New York Liberty, entering the postseason as the No. 8 seed, eliminated the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx with a 2-0 first-round sweep. New York won Game 1 by a score of 91-75 before finishing the series with an 87-71 victory in Game 2.
For Minnesota, it was a shocking ending to an outstanding regular season. The Lynx finished with a 33-11 record, the best record in the WNBA, and entered the playoffs with home-court advantage.
Instead, the Liberty walked into Minnesota and changed the entire postseason picture.
The Lynx vs Liberty series was also historic. New York became the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed under the WNBA's current playoff format.
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WNBA Playoffs: Lynx vs Liberty Series
The 2026 WNBA playoffs feature eight teams competing for the championship. The opening round is played as a best-of-three series, while the semifinals are best-of-five and the WNBA Finals are best-of-seven.
That setup made the first-round meeting between the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty particularly interesting.
Minnesota entered the series as the top seed after an impressive regular season.
New York, meanwhile, had to enter the postseason from the bottom of the playoff bracket.
On paper, the matchup looked like a major challenge for the Liberty.
On the court, the story was completely different.
Series result: New York Liberty win 2-0
- Game 1: Liberty 91, Lynx 75
- Game 2: Liberty 87, Lynx 71
New York never allowed the series to reach a deciding Game 3.
Lynx vs Liberty Game 1
Game 1 was played at Minnesota's Target Center, where the Lynx had home-court advantage.
That advantage did not last long.
The Liberty came out aggressively and eventually won 91-75.
Breanna Stewart was outstanding, finishing with 34 points and 12 rebounds. She also contributed six assists, two steals and two blocks.
It was exactly the kind of performance New York needed from one of its biggest stars.
Sabrina Ionescu added 13 points, while the Liberty's defense made it difficult for Minnesota to establish the offensive rhythm that had helped the team dominate during the regular season.
Suddenly, the No. 1 seed was one loss away from elimination.
Liberty Finish the Series in Game 2
The pressure moved to New York for Game 2.
Playing at Barclays Center on September 29, the Liberty had an opportunity to finish the series in front of their home fans.
They did not waste it.
New York defeated Minnesota 87-71 to complete the sweep.
This time, Jonquel Jones played a major role.
Jones finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, giving New York an important presence inside. Stewart added another 21 points, while Ionescu finished with 18 points and seven assists.
For Minnesota, Courtney Williams scored 18 points and Napheesa Collier added 14.
But the Lynx simply could not generate enough offense to keep up.
The Liberty controlled the game and closed out one of the most unexpected first-round results in recent WNBA history.
Jonquel Jones Makes Her Presence Felt
One of the biggest stories from the Liberty vs Lynx series was Jonquel Jones.
The veteran forward-center gave New York exactly what it needed in Game 2.
Her 21 points and 13 rebounds helped the Liberty control the paint and create second-chance opportunities.
Jones also forced Minnesota to respect New York's interior game.
That matters because the Liberty have several players who can hurt a defense in different ways.
When defenders focus on Stewart, Jones can make an impact inside. When defenses collapse toward the paint, New York has perimeter players capable of making plays.
That balance made the Liberty difficult for Minnesota to stop.
Breanna Stewart Leads the Liberty
Breanna Stewart was arguably the biggest individual story of Game 1.
Her 34-point performance immediately put Minnesota under pressure.
She followed that up with another 21-point performance in Game 2.
Stewart's ability to score from different areas of the court gave the Liberty an offensive advantage throughout the series.
For New York, having an experienced superstar capable of producing in high-pressure moments was especially valuable.
The Liberty needed only two games to move past the team with the best regular-season record.
Sabrina Ionescu Provides the Playmaking
Sabrina Ionescu also played an important role in New York's series win.
She scored 18 points and recorded seven assists in Game 2.
Her ability to create shots for herself and teammates helped keep Minnesota's defense moving.
The Liberty did not rely on one player.
Stewart provided scoring and rebounding. Jones controlled the interior. Ionescu helped organize the offense.
That combination made New York a difficult opponent despite its No. 8 seed.
What Happened to Napheesa Collier?
Napheesa Collier was one of the key players for Minnesota throughout the season.
She finished Game 2 with 14 points, but the Lynx needed more offensive production against New York.
Minnesota's regular-season success came from a balanced team approach, but playoff basketball can expose even small weaknesses.
New York's physical defense made scoring difficult, and the Lynx struggled to find consistent offensive answers.
For Collier and the rest of Minnesota's roster, the unexpected playoff exit will likely become an important part of the team's offseason evaluation.
Minnesota Lynx Had an Excellent Regular Season
It is important to separate Minnesota's playoff disappointment from what the team accomplished during the regular season.
The Lynx finished 33-11 and earned the No. 1 seed.
They also entered the postseason with significant expectations after another strong campaign.
Head coach Cheryl Reeve won her fifth WNBA Coach of the Year award, extending her record for the most wins of the award.
Rookie guard Olivia Miles also had a memorable first season and was named WNBA Rookie of the Year.
So while the playoff exit was unexpected, Minnesota's 2026 season included plenty of positives.
Olivia Miles Faces Her First WNBA Playoff Test
For Olivia Miles, the series was also a valuable learning experience.
The rookie had an impressive regular season, but the playoffs brought a different level of pressure.
In Game 2, Miles scored five points while shooting 1-for-8 from the field.
New York's defensive pressure made it difficult for her to find comfortable opportunities.
That is part of the learning curve for any young player entering the postseason for the first time.
Miles now has a full WNBA season behind her, along with valuable playoff experience that could help shape her development.
WNBA Scores: Liberty 87, Lynx 71
If you are searching for the latest WNBA scores, the final result from Game 2 was:
New York Liberty 87, Minnesota Lynx 71
Jonquel Jones led the Liberty with 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Breanna Stewart also scored 21 points, while Sabrina Ionescu added 18 points and seven assists.
For Minnesota, Courtney Williams scored 18 points and Napheesa Collier finished with 14.
The result gave New York a 2-0 series victory and ended Minnesota's postseason.
Lynx vs Liberty: Where to Watch
Fans searching for Lynx vs Liberty where to watch information should check the WNBA's official schedule and broadcast listings for upcoming games.
The first-round series is now over, so Minnesota will not play again in the 2026 postseason.
New York, however, moves on to the semifinals.
The Liberty's next games will be part of the next stage of the WNBA playoffs, with the team looking to continue its unexpected postseason run.
What Comes Next for the New York Liberty?
The Liberty now have a much bigger challenge ahead.
The first-round series was only the beginning.
New York will enter the semifinals after eliminating the WNBA's top seed. The next round will be played as a best-of-five series, meaning the Liberty need three wins to reach the WNBA Finals.
The team will face the winner of the Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics series.
The question now is whether New York can maintain the same level of defense, rebounding and offensive balance against another playoff opponent.
The Liberty have already shown that their regular-season seeding does not tell the entire story.
What Does This Mean for the Lynx?
For Minnesota, the offseason arrives much sooner than expected.
The Lynx have several important pieces to build around, including Napheesa Collier, Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride and rookie Olivia Miles.
The organization will now have time to look at what went wrong against New York and what needs to change before the next season.
The biggest lesson may be the difference between regular-season success and playoff basketball.
A 33-11 record can earn you the No. 1 seed.
But once the playoffs begin, every possession matters.
Why the 2026 WNBA Playoffs Are So Interesting
The WNBA playoffs 2026 have already given fans a reminder of how quickly the postseason can change the story of a season.
Minnesota entered the playoffs with the league's best record.
New York entered as the No. 8 seed.
Two games later, the Liberty were moving forward and the Lynx were going home.
That is what makes playoff basketball so unpredictable.
Regular-season records matter when determining the bracket, but they do not guarantee what happens once the series begins.
The Liberty took advantage of their opportunity.
Final Thoughts
The WNBA playoffs have started with a result few fans expected.
The New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 91-75 in Game 1 and 87-71 in Game 2, completing a 2-0 sweep of the No. 1 seed.
Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu led the way for New York, while Minnesota's season came to an unexpected end after an impressive 33-11 regular-season campaign.
For the Liberty, the journey continues.
For the Lynx, the focus now shifts toward the offseason and what comes next.
One thing is already clear: the 2026 WNBA playoffs have delivered a major surprise, and the Liberty are now one of the teams everyone will be watching.
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