Historic upset
The New York Liberty completed a historic upset on Tuesday night, defeating the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 87-71 in Game 2 of their WNBA playoff quarter-final to sweep the series 2-0. The victory marks the first time an eighth-seeded team has knocked out a No. 1 seed in the league’s 30-year history.
Standout performances
Jonquel Jones led New York with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Breanna Stewart also scored 21 points. Point guard Sabrina Ionescu contributed 18 points as the Liberty pulled away to a comfortable win in the deciding game. The balanced scoring and interior presence helped New York control the game and close out the series.
Format and context
The result is only possible under the WNBA’s current playoff format, adopted in 2022, which pits the top eight teams against each other in the quarter-finals. The league has used several different playoff structures over its three-decade history, and earlier formats would not have allowed an eight-vs-one matchup to occur.
Next steps
With the series over, New York advances to the WNBA semi-finals. Minnesota, the top seed, is eliminated at the quarter-final stage. The Liberty will await their next opponent as the semi-final matchups are set following the conclusion of the other quarter-final series.