ARLINGTON — We waited 9 months to get the highly-anticipated WNBA Finals rematch.
And we’ll have to attend a bit longer to relive these theatrics — probably until October with the Liberty frequently getting bit by the harm bug.
Within the spring, the WNBA world groaned on the league scheduling the 2024 WNBA Finals rematch between the Minnesota Lynx and Liberty greater than two months after Opening Day.
And never solely did we’ve got to attend until summer season, the league scheduled the 2024 finalists to face off thrice inside 9 days in August.
Now the anticipation is ruined with the Liberty slated to enter the matchups shorthanded as Breanna Stewart (leg) and Nyara Sabally (relaxation) are sidelined with accidents.
Stewart exited within the first quarter of Saturday’s loss with a leg harm and Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello declined to provide a timeline for her return earlier than Monday’s highway matchup in opposition to the Dallas Wings.
“No, not at this stage,” Brondello mentioned when requested if there’s a timeline for Stewart’s return.
Sabally, who’s coping with knee discomfort, is getting some “time off to get her body right,” per Brondello.
“We’ll assess her down the track,” the coach mentioned.
That makes two unclear timelines because the Liberty method the primary matchup in opposition to the Lynx Wednesday at Goal Canter. Each groups have been slated to face off once more on Aug. 16 and Aug, 19.
Kennedy Burke can be coping with lower-body cramping, however she may return to the court docket before Stewart and Sabally. Burke, who exited Saturday’s matchup and missed Monday’s recreation in opposition to the Wings, is day-to-day.
The harm developments put a darkish cloud over the matchups in opposition to two groups which can be favorites to face of in WNBA Finals as soon as once more.
The Liberty and Lynx fought to the top in an exciting five-game WNBA Finals collection that ended with New York securing the primary title in franchise historical past after a 67-62 extra time victory.
The sport wouldn’t have been gained with out Sabally, who was relied on closely within the second half of Recreation 5 as Brondello opted to deploy an even bigger lineup to put on down Cheryl Reeve’s staff.
And Stewart’s 18.6 factors per recreation within the collection helped carry the Liberty to a title.
Now, we could by no means get an actual regular-season look a the 2 groups with out each contributors.
On the intense aspect, we may get one other Finals rematch between the 2.
Minessota (22-5) entered Monday with the very best report and No. 1 general seed. The Liberty are 3.5 video games behind them within the No. 2 seed.
If the season ended tonight, the 2 groups would solely meet one another within the WNBA Finals — now a best-of-seven collection for the primary time in 2025.
The Liberty must get previous the Las Vegas Aces in a 2-7 matchup and face off in opposition to the winner of No. 3 seed Phoenix Mercury and No. 6 seed Indiana Fever for an opportunity at a 3rd consecutive WNBA Finals berth.
The Lynx’s path is way simpler: a first-round matchup in opposition to the No. 8 seed Washington Mystics and a second-round collection in opposition to the fourth-seeded Atlanta Dream or fifth-seeded Seattle Storm.
One other uncertainty for the upcoming matchups in opposition to Minnesota is whether or not Emma Meesseman might be accessible.
Meesseman, who reportedly thought-about Minnesota as a possible touchdown spot earlier than committing to New York, is predicted to reach in Brooklyn a while in August after receiving a visa.
Initially Printed: July 28, 2025 at 5:55 PM EDT
