The Minnesota Lynx flexed their home dominance again and held off a rallying New York Liberty, edging the visitors 86-80 on Saturday to tighten their grip near the top of the standings.
The Liberty opened the game cold, scoring just 12 points in the first quarter—their lowest opening-quarter total of the season—and failing to hit a single 3-pointer in that frame. Minnesota used a quick start to build a 15-point lead three minutes into the second period, but New York fought back, flipping the script and taking a lead that they fought to protect through the second half.
Kayla McBride delivered a late dagger for Minnesota, capping a game of uneven shooting with a 29-foot 3-pointer with 31.9 seconds remaining that helped seal the win. McBride struggled early, finishing 2-of-13 from the field and 1-of-6 from deep, and she also missed four free throws, but her late shot helped the Lynx preserve an 86-80 win. The victory kept Minnesota (28-5) relevant in the race for the best regular-season record and moved them closer to matching a franchise single-season wins mark set last year.
New York (21-13) remained in the mix for the No. 2 playoff seed but dropped to 0-3 against Minnesota this season. The Lynx are 17-1 at home and have not lost a game in this calendar month, all while playing without their leading scorer for the stretch. Napheesa Collier was sidelined for the fourth straight game with an ankle sprain.
For New York, the absence of Breanna Stewart, who has not played since July 26 due to a knee issue, loomed large. The Liberty were also without Nyara Sabally and Isabelle Harrison in the frontcourt. Still, New York received a strong effort from their reserves: Kennedy Burke and Marine Johannès each contributed 11 and 12 points off the bench, respectively, helping the visitors reach double figures in scoring as a group.
Jonquel Jones, last season’s Finals MVP, led the Liberty with 17 points and helped trigger a 16-0 run in the second quarter that turned a double-digit deficit into a briefly narrow margin. New York’s depth showed as five different players hit at least two 3-pointers, with Jones anchoring the interior and Burke and Johannès providing scoring from the bench.
Courtney Williams stepped up to carry the Liberty’s offense in the absence of Collier and Stewart, finishing with a season-best 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting and adding five assists. Williams’ performance underscored the Liberty’s depth when healthy but also highlighted how much the team relies on its top players to carry load when frontcourt depth is thin.
Looking ahead, New York will have another chance at Minnesota Tuesday when the Lynx visit the Liberty for their final regular-season meeting. The quick rematch provides an opportunity for the Liberty to test their depth against a top-tier opponent and build momentum heading toward the postseason.
Summary and takeaways
– Lynx win 86-80; improve 28-5 overall, 17-1 at home.
– Liberty drop to 21-13; 0-3 against Minnesota this season.
– Key players: Jonquel Jones 17 for New York; Courtney Williams 26; Kayla McBride with a late, decisive 3 for Minnesota; Napheesa Collier out; Breanna Stewart out for NY with knee injury; Burke (11) and Johannès (12) off the bench.
– Injuries to New York’s frontcourt and Minnesota’s leading scorer out for the stretch have been a major storyline, but the depth contributions kept the game competitive to the final minutes.
– Next up: Tuesday, Minnesota visits New York for the final regular-season matchup between the teams.
Optional notes for the article:
– Add a short analysis box highlighting how injuries have reshaped each team’s rotation and minutes distribution.
– Include a quick stat line graphic for the standout players to give readers a faster read on who did what.
– If possible, add a brief note on how this result affects playoff seeding scenarios for both teams.
Positive angle:
– Despite injuries and a tough road slate, New York demonstrated resilience with multiple players stepping up, and the upcoming rematch gives them a clear opportunity to rebound and solidify their playoff positioning. Minnesota also showed they can win games even when their top scorer isn’t in the lineup, underscoring their depth and championship-caliber mentality.