Liberty Takes Commanding Lead, But Cautions Remain
MINNEAPOLIS — Breanna Stewart had a clear message after the game.
The eighth-seeded Liberty entered Target Center on Sunday determined and exited with a convincing 91-75 victory against the top-seeded Lynx. This win puts them just one step away from the semifinals, while the Lynx face the bleak prospect of elimination.
Stewart delivered an impressive performance, scoring 34 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and adding six assists, two steals, and two blocks. Despite such a stellar showing, she didn’t seem overly jubilant, unlike one might expect from someone who just defeated the league’s best team.
“This doesn’t mean relax,” Stewart expressed about taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. “Minny’s exceptionally talented, and they’ll throw everything at us Tuesday.”
Stewart is acutely aware of the potential pitfalls, recalling last September when the Liberty won Game 1 against the Mercury only to falter in Game 2, eventually leading to their elimination. That memory serves as a caution for this upcoming challenge.
Jonquel Jones acknowledged the ongoing threat from the Lynx. “We understand it’s going to be even harder now that we have them on the ropes,” she said. “When you have anybody with their backs against the wall, they’re going to fight to try to get out of that.”
Following Sunday’s loss, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve found some comfort in their strong road performance during the regular season, where they boasted an impressive 18-4 record. Veteran guard Kayla McBride reinforced their confidence, stating, “There’s not one second that I don’t believe in this group.” She emphasized the importance of stepping up in the next game, adding, “I believe in us. I don’t have any doubt inside my body that we can’t go to New York and bring this back.”
The Liberty now stand just one win away from making history as the first team to eliminate a No. 1 seed in the first round under the WNBA’s current playoff format. But while it feels close, there’s also a sense that victory remains elusive.
“[Minnesota] is a team that has proven that throughout the season that they’re the best,” Jones reminded everyone. “We don’t expect that it’s just going to be some blowout and it’s going to be easy. We understand that it’s going to take everybody being locked in, having a very high level of focus, and just playing team basketball again to close the series.”
Both teams are bound to make adjustments ahead of the next game. The Liberty can’t rely on off nights for McBride and Courtney Williams again or hope that Lynx players like Napheesa Collier and Natasha Howard get into foul trouble.
“We need to be honest about our turnover issue,” a Liberty player pointed out, considering their 21 turnovers during the game that resulted in 18 points for the Lynx.
Moving forward in the playoffs—where they could face the winner of a different series—seems plausible, but last year’s premature exit should echo in their minds as a reminder of how quickly opportunities can slip away.
“Just staying mentally really locked in is key,” said Leonie Fiebich. “When we’re calm and focused on execution, we perform well. We falter when we react emotionally and let bad calls get to us.”
