The New York Liberty made history this week by becoming the first eighth seed to sweep a top-seeded team in the WNBA playoffs, eliminating the Minnesota Lynx in a best-of-three opening-round series at Barclays Center. The upset marked a significant turnaround for the Liberty, who had entered the postseason as underdogs after a regular season that offered few indicators of such a dominant playoff performance.
Following the series win, Liberty co-owner Joe Tsai took to social media to assert that seeding was no longer relevant, declaring the Liberty the best team in the playoffs. The team’s display on the court supported that confidence, as they outplayed the Lynx — the league’s best regular-season team — in two consecutive games, with final scores of 75- and 71-points allowed. The Liberty’s defensive effort was a key factor, especially in limiting Minnesota’s Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles and outscoring the Lynx 74-50 in the paint across the series.
The Liberty’s success hinged on the performances of their so-called "big three" stars. Stewart delivered a standout Game 1 with 34 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and two steals, setting the tone for the series. In Game 2, Jonquel Jones took control inside the paint, while Sabrina Ionescu regained her offensive rhythm. Stewart emphasized the importance of maintaining this playoff intensity going forward, acknowledging the need for the team to carry a chip on their shoulder.
Despite a regular season that saw them finish sixth in offensive rating, seventh in defensive rating, and seventh in net rating, the Liberty found a new level in the postseason. They concluded the regular season with one fewer win than the previous year, illustrating a team still in the process of defining its identity. Players, however, expressed confidence in the group’s potential and cohesion. Rebecca Allen highlighted the team’s growth and learning, while Leonie Fiebich emphasized their clarity of purpose and focus moving forward.
The Liberty now prepare for a best-of-five semifinal series against the fourth-seeded Atlanta Dream, who also swept their first-round opponents, the Washington Mystics. With a core combination of Stewart’s versatility, Jones’ interior presence, and Ionescu’s creativity, the Liberty appear poised to continue challenging higher-seeded teams.
“We are an eight seed even though we don’t feel like it,” Stewart remarked. “The chip of winning, wanting to win a championship, changes to being people thinking that they’re gonna be able to just do whatever they want to us... so I think having that mindset and mentality is great going forward.”
As the playoffs advance, the Liberty’s unexpected early success has shifted perceptions about their championship potential, making them a team to watch in the coming rounds.