The top-seeded Minnesota Lynx will face the New York Liberty in the first round of the 2026 WNBA playoffs beginning on Sunday, Sept. 27.
The Lynx are looking for their first title since 2017. They also lost to the Liberty in the 2024 WNBA Finals. The series, at that time a best of five, went the distance with New York holding off Minnesota in Game 5, 67-62, for its first league title.
The Liberty have many of the same players including Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu but are now led by first-year coach Chris DeMarco instead of Sandy Brondello.
The Lynx have switched up their roster, losing starters Alanna Smith and Bridget Carleton and adding rookie point guard Olivia Miles and center Natasha Howard.
Here's USA TODAY Studio IX's
breakdown of the Lynx-Liberty series:
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 8 New York Liberty
No. 1 Minnesota Lynx (33-11)
Odds to win the WNBA title: +100
Reason for hope: The Minnesota Lynx rank top 5 in the league in offensive rating (112.3) and defensive rating (103.5), with the second-highest 3-point percentage (47.8). Rookie point guard Olivia Miles has been sensational, leading the team in scoring (19.8 points per game) and assists (6.0). All five of the Lynx’s starters are averaging double-digits and will have extra motivation facing off against the Liberty, who won the 2024 WNBA championship over Minnesota.
Reason for concern: The Lynx have been the top team all season long, but they’ve looked vulnerable heading into the postseason after dropping four of their final six regular-season games. Coach Cheryl Reeve pointed to the team’s defensive lapses, with Minnesota’s defensive rating (105.6) dropping to ninth in the league across the rough stretch. The Lynx’s starting unit has been fantastic, but with the lowest-scoring bench in the league (15.4), Minnesota won’t be able to outscore their mistakes and must shore up its defense.
Stat to know: Playing at home is a big incentive in the postseason, but Minnesota may be the only team indifferent about it. Sure, they secured the No. 1 overall seed and homecourt throughout the playoffs, but Minnesota actually has a better record on the road (18-4) than at home (15-7).
First-round outlook: All eyes will be on the availability of Olivia Miles. The Rookie of the Year frontrunner missed the Lynx’s last two games with a left calf injury that Reeve said recently “popped up.” Miles has scored double-digit points in all three matchups against the Liberty, including a 23-point, five-rebound performance in the Lynx’s 90-85 win over the Liberty on July 11.
No. 8 New York Liberty (26-18)
Odds to win the WNBA title: +1400
Reason for hope: New York’s Big 3 of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu have championship experience. The trio led the Liberty to the franchise’s first title over the Lynx in 2024, so they know what it takes to get over the mountain. The team also clinched the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, proving they are contenders. Can the Liberty turn it on when it matters most?
Reason for concern: The Liberty stumbled into the playoffs, dropping their final two games of the season to the Atlanta Dream by double-digits. Even more cause for concern, there’s question marks surrounding the status of Breanna Stewart (left knee soreness) and Jonquel Jones (left ankle). Stewart sat out the Liberty’s regular-season finale as a precaution and Jones exited early after twisting her ankle after stepping on a fan’s foot. Stewart and Jones are crucial to New York’s playoff run.
Stat to know: The Liberty have had 15 different starting lineups this season, the most of any playoff team, highlighting how injuries have impacted the Liberty’s season. Sabrina Ionesco has been limited to 31 games due to injury, Leonie Fiebich has played 21 and Satou Sabally 13 games before shutting down her season. Health is a big factor for the Liberty’s playoff hopes.
First-round outlook: New York Liberty coach Chris DeMarco said he’s not sure if Stewart's knee soreness will affect her availability in the postseason: “Hopefully she'll (be) ready." The Liberty needs Breanna Stewart in the lineup. Stewart had 36 points in the Liberty’s 99-86 win over the Lynx on July 3 and dropped a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double in the Liberty’s 93-81 win over the Lynx on Sept. 18. Stewart leads the team in scoring (20.8 points per game), steals (1.4) and blocks (1.3).
How to watch
- Game 1: 2 p.m. ET Sunday, ABC
- Game 2: 8:30 p.m. ET, Tuesday, USA/CNBC
- Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, TBD
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A recent Finals rivalry returns as Lynx and Liberty collide in Round 1
