Liberty stun top-seeded Lynx 91-75 in Game 1

The eighth-seeded New York Liberty beat the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 91-75 in Game 1 of a best-of-three first-round series on Sept. 27, 2026, in Minneapolis. Breanna Stewart scored 34 points with 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks on 11-for-18 shooting while Napheesa Collier guarded her much of the game. Leonie Fiebich added 16. Nia Brodie led the Lynx with 16 points in 19 minutes off the bench; Kayla McBride had 14 after missing her first five 3s. Olivia Miles had 11 points on 3-for-12 shooting and one assist in her playoff debut. Collier and Natasha Howard each fouled out after reaching four fouls by 8:33 of the third. No top seed has failed to advance from the first round since the 2022 format change. The Liberty went 26-18 with the league's best record and won the title two years ago against the Lynx in five games. Jonquel Jones said the job was to "make history." The New York Post framed the result as a crush and stunner and wrote that the Lynx all but handed the game away, an interpretation distinct from the agreed scoreline. No left-rated coverage appears in the record. The Liberty moved within one win of eliminating the top seed.