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The New York Liberty won the franchise’s first WNBA title this past October after a grind-it-out series against the Minnesota Lynx. Game 5 went to overtime, where the Liberty prevailed 67-62. The Lynx were devastated by the outcome and angry with the officiating. With both teams likely to bring back most of their rosters, the rivalry was expected to be just as red-hot in 2025.
But nine months later, they have yet to play this season. Their potential meeting in a second consecutive Commissioner’s Cup final 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 finally meet again. The first of their four regular-season matchups is Wednesday at Target Center in Minneapolis (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). The first-place Lynx (22-5) have lost just one regular-season home game this season. Napheesa Collier, the All-Star Game MVP and the league’s leading scorer at 23.5 PPG, is the favorite for season MVP.
The Liberty, second in the standings at 17-8, have had more ups and downs due to injuries. Jonquel Jones, the 2024 Finals MVP, returned July 22 from an ankle injury and has played just 13 of New York’s 25 games. Two-time season MVP Breanna Stewart suffered a leg injury early in Saturday’s loss to Los Angeles and then missed Monday’s loss at Dallas. Her availability for Wednesday is uncertain.
ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Kevin Pelton and Michael Voepel look at three factors that will determine Wednesday’s game when the Lynx at last take on the Liberty.
New season, different matchups
Pelton: When the Liberty are back at full strength, they’ll look different than last year’s team that played Betnijah Laney-Hamilton 28.8 MPG in the Finals. Laney-Hamilton saw extended time defensively on both of the…
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