It wasn’t the WNBA Finals rematch you anticipated.
On Wednesday evening, the Liberty and Minnesota Lynx matched up for the primary time for the reason that two groups battled in a grueling five-game WNBA Finals sequence that ended with New York as champions.
The rematch — a 100-93 Lynx victory — sadly misplaced its luster approach earlier than tip-off with the Liberty severely shorthanded: Breanna Stewart (knee), Kennedy Burke (calf) and Nyara Sabally (knee discomfort) all have been unavailable for the matchup.
And the trio’s availability for the opposite three Lynx matchups in August are unclear — leaving the WNBA world to attend for an additional potential Finals sequence to see the 2 groups match up at full power.
The Liberty, although, put up a struggle, however fell sufferer to an MVP efficiency by Napheesa Collier: 30 factors, 9 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and a steal. Collier totaled 19 factors by halftime whereas drawing the matchup of Jonquel Jones, a four-time All Defensive Crew choice.
Kayla McBride contributed 24 factors and Courtney Williams recorded six factors and 13 assists.
Sabrina Ionescu led her shorthanded workforce with 31 factors 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
The defending champions trailed by simply six coming into the fourth. However the deficit shortly ballooned to double-digits with Natisha Hiedeman’s trey on the 8:42 mark. Bridget Carleton drained two extra afterwards, together with a 22-footer that gave the Lynx their greatest lead of the evening (15) halfway by the ultimate interval.
Eleven unanswered Liberty factors made the sport attention-grabbing, shortening the deficit to 4 with a minute remaining.
That’s when MVPhee got here by to transform a conventional three-point play over Isabelle Harrison to cease the bleeding.
It absolutely isn’t whole revenge to get a regular-season win in opposition to a workforce that eradicated you within the WNBA Finals, nevertheless it’ll do for Cheryl Reeve’s workforce for now.
The defeat prolong the Liberty’s shedding streak to 3 video games and pushes them 5 video games behind the first-place Lynx in WNBA standings.
Regardless of the loss, the Liberty’s effort and uninspired play — which has been addressed by head coach Sandy Brondello — in defeats to the Los Angeles Sparks and Dallas Wings gave the impression to be higher all through 4 quarters on Wednesday evening.
The Liberty trailed by as many as 30 factors to the lowly Wings on Monday and allowed 31 first-quarter factors to them. The Sparks taxed the Libs for 35 within the opening interval final Saturday.
On Wednesday evening, the Liberty allowed simply 24 as each workforce entered the second quarter tied.
Marine Johannes, who began rather than Stewart, benefitted from house and tempo to attain eight first-quarter factors. And the Liberty have been much less uncovered in pick-and-rolls like in earlier matchups. There was extra cohesion on the defensive finish and fewer blown assignments — each on the level of assault and within the paint.
Nevertheless it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient.
Collier shined within the second, scoring the Lynx’s ultimate 11 factors within the interval to place her workforce up 9 going into halftime.
Ionescu battled ending the third, contributing 5 factors and an help in a 7-2 run to finish the third.
It acquired the Liberty inside hanging vary however with out co-star Stewart, the defending champions didn’t have sufficient to cease the Lynx.
The house workforce on Wednesday evening prevented an ending of the decisive sport of 2024. That extra time WNBA Finals Recreation 5 Lynx loss constructed the hype for a rematch in 2025.
However, the damage bug inside Barclays Heart doubtless ruins any likelihood to relive that hype within the upcoming regular-season matchups: Aug. 10 in New York, Aug. 16 in Minnesota and Aug. 19 in New York.
Initially Revealed: July 30, 2025 at 8:08 PM EDT
