Sunday presented a chance to evaluate freedom in the realm of basketball.
For the first time since Game 5 of the 2025 WNBA Finals, the Liberty faced off against the Lynx at the Barclays Center in New York.
This time, however, the Lynx secured an 83-71 victory, marking their success during the WNBA’s inaugural rivalry week.
The teams ended the first half tied, but with Naphesa Collier sidelined due to an ankle injury and Breanna Stewart dealing with a bone bruise, the Liberty struggled to match the Lynx’s intensity in the second half.
As it stands, New York hasn’t been able to defeat last year’s runner-up.
Currently, it seems unlikely that the Liberty will close the gap on the Lynx, as they are six games behind in the WNBA standings.
Interestingly, both teams have played down the idea of being rivals, suggesting that their history isn’t rich enough to warrant such a designation.
Still, players and coaches might be overlooking the significance of the matchup, while fans appear to be more engaged.
In Minnesota last month, Lynx supporters donned shirts that read, “Everyone saw Minnesota being taken away,” indicating a certain pride.
Meanwhile, Liberty fans have expressed their discontent regarding recent comments by Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve.
Reeve stirred the pot on social media recently when Emma Meesman implied he had “made the wrong choice” in signing elsewhere over the Lynx.
After the Lynx signed former Liberty guard Jaylyn Sherrod, Reeve added more fuel to the fire when asked about her potential impact on Minnesota.
“I don’t know yet. Probably corporate knowledge,” he remarked sarcastically.
While Sherrod’s former team wished her well in Minnesota, it’s clear her departure stirred mixed feelings.
Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb had even contacted other teams on Sherrod’s behalf after the organization let her go to sign Meesman.
Even if the matchup between the Liberty and Lynx isn’t a classic WNBA rivalry yet, the games bring out the best in both sides. It’s likely that each team elevated their play during their first two encounters this season.
The Liberty and Lynx are set to meet two more times within the next nine days.
