After the New York Liberty edged Minnesota 3-2 to claim the franchise’s first-ever championship, the Lynx have had their revenge this season, winning three straight against the Liberty. Saturday’s game was another close one, with Courtney Williams stepping up for Minnesota, scoring a season-high 26 points. Kayla McBride added a clutch 3-pointer with just 30.8 seconds left, helping Minnesota pull away for an 86-80 win. “Honestly, we down Phee, so like I always say, somebody gotta give a little bit more. We all gotta give a little bit more,” Williams said.
Minnesota built its win on strong team contributions. Jessica Shepard chipped in 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Alanna Smith added 14 points, seven boards, and four blocks. Napheesa Collier, still sidelined with an ankle injury, missed her fourth straight game, but the Lynx’s by-committee approach has worked beautifully. Minnesota shot 49.3% from the field, knocked down a season-high 15 three-pointers, and outscored New York 26-19 in the fourth quarter.
“Every time we play them, we try to come out and stomp them,” Williams said, recalling the Finals rivalry. “Neither one of us is going to lay down.” On the Liberty side, Jonquel Jones led with 17 points, while Sabrina Ionescu added 13 points and 10 assists, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Lynx.
With Minnesota now 28-5 and the Liberty 21-13, the stage is set for another showdown Tuesday at the Barclays Center. Both teams have stars stepping up and injuries to navigate, making this next matchup anyone’s game. Who do you think will come out on top this time?
New York Liberty vs Minnesota Lynx: Where to watch
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 19
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Watch on: ESPN
Streaming: Fubo, League Pass, and ESPN+
New York Liberty vs Minnesota Lynx: Injury Report
New York Liberty
Breanna Stewart: OUT (Leg)
Nyara Sabally: OUT (Knee)
Isabelle Harrison: OUT (Concussion)
Minnesota Lynx
Napheesa Collier: OUT/ Doubtful for Tuesday (Ankle)
Probable Starting Lineups
New York Liberty
Natasha Cloud
Sabrina Ionescu
Leonie Fiebich
Emma Meesseman
Jonquel Jones
Minnesota Lynx
Courtney Williams
Kayla McBride
Bridget Carleton
Jessica Shepard
Alanna Smith
Prediction: Will the Lynx pull off another victory?
The Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty are set for another close matchup, and if their last game is any indication, it’s going to be intense. On Saturday, the Lynx narrowly escaped thanks to Kayla McBride’s clutch three-pointer late in the game. The Liberty improved their perimeter defense, limiting Minnesota’s three-point attempts, but it also opened up more drives and free-throw opportunities for the Lynx. With New York averaging 86.5 points per game and Minnesota allowing just 75.8, the Lynx have a slight advantage if they replicate their strategy.
Key players will be crucial in deciding the outcome. For the Liberty, Sabrina Ionescu leads with 19.2 points and 5.3 assists per game, while Jonquel Jones averages 8.6 rebounds, and Natasha Cloud contributes 5.5 assists. Minnesota counters with Kayla McBride hitting 2.7 threes per game, Alanna Smith providing 2.1 blocks per contest, and newest addition, DiJonai Carrington, averaging 11 points (3rd-highest excluding Collier) despite coming off the bench. Both teams feature multiple scorers in double digits and have the potential to turn the game with key performances.
Looking ahead, the Liberty have struggled to close out games recently, while the Lynx have consistently executed in critical moments. Minnesota held New York to just two points in the final three minutes of their last matchup. With superior free-throw efficiency, strong three-point shooting, and solid overall scoring, the Lynx appear slightly more likely to come out on top. The Liberty remain a formidable opponent with Ionescu, Cloud, and Jones leading the way, but Minnesota’s consistency and finishing ability could give them the edge.
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