The New York Liberty received the franchise’s first WNBA title this previous October after a grind-it-out sequence towards the Minnesota Lynx. Sport 5 went to additional time, the place the Liberty prevailed 67-62. The Lynx had been devastated by the end result and offended with the officiating. With each groups prone to convey again most of their rosters, the rivalry was anticipated to be simply as red-hot in 2025.
However 9 months later, they’ve but to play this season. Their potential assembly in a second consecutive Commissioner’s Cup closing evaporated with a Liberty loss to the Indiana Fever, who then took the Cup title over the Lynx on July 1.
Now the Liberty and Lynx lastly meet once more. The primary of their 4 regular-season matchups is Wednesday at Goal Heart in Minneapolis (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). The primary-place Lynx (22-5) have misplaced only one regular-season residence sport this season. Napheesa Collier, the All-Star Sport MVP and the league’s main scorer at 23.5 PPG, is the favourite for season MVP.
The Liberty, second within the standings at 17-8, have had extra ups and downs as a result of accidents. Jonquel Jones, the 2024 Finals MVP, returned July 22 from an ankle harm and has performed simply 13 of New York’s 25 video games. Two-time season MVP Breanna Stewart suffered a leg harm early in Saturday’s loss to Los Angeles after which missed Monday’s loss at Dallas. Her availability for Wednesday is unsure.
ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Kevin Pelton and Michael Voepel have a look at three components that may decide Wednesday’s sport when the Lynx ultimately tackle the Liberty.
New season, completely different matchups
Pelton: When the Liberty are again at full energy, they will look completely different than final yr’s crew that performed Betnijah Laney-Hamilton 28.8 MPG within the Finals. Laney-Hamilton noticed prolonged time defensively on each of the Lynx’s All-Star guards, Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams. In her place, New York now has Natasha Cloud, who’s no stranger to Minnesota’s backcourt after going through the Lynx with the Phoenix Mercury in final yr’s opening spherical of the playoffs.
By the deciding Sport 5, Liberty coach Sandy Brondello was favoring greater lineups with backup heart Nyara Sabally alongside starter Jones and the 6-foot-4 ahead duo of Leonie Fiebich and Stewart. Sabally had 13 factors and 7 boards in Sport 5, taking part in 14 minutes with Jones.
Sabally will not be accessible for Wednesday’s sport as she manages knee discomfort. As a consequence of her personal absences and Jones lacking 12 video games, the 2 facilities have performed collectively simply three minutes all season, per WNBA Superior Stats. New York has Isabelle Harrison as a middle possibility, however we’ll possible see smaller lineups from the Liberty than those that had been efficient towards the Lynx within the 2024 Finals.
Showdown between the beginning guards
Voepel: How will every crew’s high guards rise to the event? Sabrina Ionescu leads the Liberty in scoring (19.3 PPG) and steals (1.5 SPG). She is second in assists (5.8) to Cloud (6.0), who additionally averages 10.1 PPG and has at all times been identified for her protection.
Minnesota is Collier’s crew, no query. She will be able to single-handedly change the course of a sport. But it surely makes a giant distinction when guards Williams (14.1 PPG, 6.1 APG) and McBride (14.0, 3.2) are “on.” That duo has mixed for 98 3-pointers, in comparison with 89 for Ionescu and Cloud.
The Lynx’s 90-86 residence loss to the Atlanta Dream on Sunday was an instance of Collier excelling at every part (14 of 18 from the sector for 32 factors, plus 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks) however not getting fairly sufficient from everybody else, particularly on the defensive finish. For the season, the Lynx have allowed a median of simply 75.4 PPG, greatest within the league. Collier is the reigning defensive participant of the yr, however once more, Minnesota’s collective protection has propelled the Lynx to first place.
Which gamers can be found for New York
Philippou: There is not any doubt about it: If Stewart is unavailable Wednesday, that may put a damper on what was such a extremely anticipated Finals rematch. Notably, Brondello didn’t share a timeline for Stewart’s return when requested Monday, and it has been clear over the previous two video games that the Liberty are particularly lacking her on the defensive finish. Sources informed ESPN that whereas Stewart (proper leg) prevented vital harm when she exited Saturday’s sport, together with any ligament injury, the crew is taking a cautious method and desires to present her time to recuperate, particularly after she carried a heavier load when Jones was out together with her ankle sprain.
The Liberty’s frontcourt depth has taken a toll this season with not solely Sabally out a lot of this yr however with Kennedy Burke additionally sidelined Monday. Burke was given a relaxation designation after she skilled cramps and missed the second half this weekend towards the Sparks. Burke averaged simply 7.5 minutes per sport within the postseason final yr however has been a a lot greater a part of the Liberty’s identification this season, averaging 21.8 minutes per sport and taking pictures 47.5% from 3, and New York may use her on the ground Wednesday.
With out Burke and Stewart towards the Wings, Brondello utilized her tenth completely different beginning lineup of the summer season, tied for the third most within the WNBA, and gave Harrison her first begin of the season. However popping out of the locker room down 27 following a complete defensive meltdown, Brondello went with a smaller lineup, changing Harrison with Marine Johannes, and gave Stephanie Talbot extra of a run.
The Liberty and the Lynx meet three extra instances in August — we are able to have a dialog one other day on the weird scheduling of this sequence — with rematches set for Aug. 10 in New York, Aug. 16 in Minnesota and Aug. 19 again at Barclays.
And by then, New York will possible have Emma Meesseman — who was additionally courted by the Lynx earlier than she determined to signal with the Liberty — included into the fold. Sources informed ESPN that Meesseman is working to safe her work visa and that her arrival is anticipated to occur sooner relatively than later.
Nonetheless, New York’s latest harm bug — particularly with Jones and Stewart impacted — underscores that its biggest hurdle in repeating may not be the Lynx, however whether or not the Liberty are wholesome sufficient in September and October.
