Breanna Stewart delivered a standout performance with 34 points and 12 rebounds in the New York Liberty's 91-75 victory against the Minnesota Lynx in Game 1 of their first-round WNBA playoff series in Minneapolis on Sunday. The two-time MVP also contributed six assists, two steals, and two blocks, shooting 11 for 18 from the field while being guarded by her former college teammate, Napheesa Collier, the 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.
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Stewart's scoring tally brought her within two points of the Liberty's franchise record for a playoff game. She has one of the highest postseason scoring averages in league history.
Nia Brodie led the Lynx with 16 points in just 19 minutes off the bench, while Kayla McBride added 14 points despite missing her initial five attempts from three-point range. Collier and All-Star center Natasha Howard each fouled out, and rookie Olivia Miles had a quiet postseason debut with only 11 points, shooting 3 for 12 and recording just one assist.
The Liberty, fresh off their first WNBA championship two years prior, presented a significant challenge for the Lynx, who finished the regular season with a league-best 26-18 record. Last season, the Liberty were eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Mercury, who then defeated the top-seeded Lynx in the next round.
Minnesota fans were enthusiastic for a rematch against the Liberty, recalling the contentious 2024 finals where New York claimed victory amid disputed officiating and remarks about WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's attire. Fans took their own stance on the rivalry, with some wearing dresses featuring the Minneapolis skyline as a nod to the past.
Game 2 is set to take place on Tuesday in New York, where the Liberty will have the chance to eliminate the Lynx, who must secure a win to force a decisive Game 3 back in Minneapolis on Thursday.