New York Liberty Defeat Minnesota Lynx 87-71 in Playoff Matchup
Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 8:30 PM ET · Barclays Center
New York Liberty 87, Minnesota Lynx 71, final. Our WNBA picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Minnesota Lynx vs New York Liberty?
New York Liberty beat Minnesota Lynx 87-71 at Barclays Center on September 29, 2026.
Who was favored in Minnesota Lynx vs New York Liberty?
Minnesota Lynx were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -175 (about 64% implied). The underdog won.
The New York Liberty secured a decisive victory over the Minnesota Lynx, winning 87-71 at Barclays Center. This match was significant as it showcased the Liberty's strong performance against a formidable opponent, having previously won the series 2-1 this season. The Liberty's recent form has been impressive, with a record of 6-4 over their last ten games, averaging 86.1 points scored and allowing 81.8 points per game. They entered this game on a one-game winning streak, having defeated the Lynx just days prior on September 27, where they won 91-75.
Conversely, the Minnesota Lynx, despite their overall strong season record of 33-11, have struggled recently with a record of 5-5 in their last ten games. They averaged 83.0 points scored and allowed 84.1 points during this stretch. The Lynx were coming off a loss to the Liberty and were looking to bounce back, but they ultimately fell short in this playoff matchup.
At home, the Liberty have performed well, with a home record of 2-3 in their last five games. In contrast, the Lynx have had a tougher time on the road, holding a 1-3 record in their last four away games. Historically, the Liberty and Lynx have faced each other eight times over the past two seasons, with an even record of 4-4, but the Liberty have had the upper hand recently, winning three of the last four meetings.
In terms of injuries, the Liberty were without Satou Sabally due to a concussion and Elizabeth Balogun for non-injury related reasons. The Lynx also faced challenges with Anastasiia Olairi Kosu out due to a foot issue and Elena Buenavida out for a coach's decision. These absences undoubtedly affected both teams' strategies and performances.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had the Lynx favored by 3.5 points, with a total set at 174.5. The odds reflected the competitive nature of the matchup, but the Liberty's strong showing turned the expectations upside down.
Conditions during the game were conducive to a high-energy performance, and the Liberty capitalized on their home-court advantage. Key scoring plays in the fourth quarter included a three-point step back jumper by Aari McDonald and a driving layup by Sabrina Ionescu, both of which contributed to the Liberty's growing lead.
As the game progressed, the Liberty maintained control, with Breanna Stewart and Courtney Williams making significant contributions to the score. The final quarter saw the Liberty outscore the Lynx decisively, cementing their victory and showcasing their offensive capabilities.
Overall, this match highlighted the Liberty's resilience and ability to perform under pressure, while the Lynx will need to regroup and reassess their strategy moving forward.
What we said beforehand
The upcoming matchup between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx promises to be a thrilling encounter, as the two teams have shown competitive form in their recent meetings. The Liberty currently hold a 2-1 advantage in their season series against the Lynx, having won their last two encounters, including a decisive 91-75 victory on September 27, 2026. This fixture will take place at Barclays Center, with a scheduled start time of 00:30 UTC on September 30, 2026.
The New York Liberty enter this game with a home record of 26-18, while the Minnesota Lynx boast a stronger away record of 33-11. In their last five games, the Liberty have a record of 3-2, with an average of 87.8 points scored and 80.6 points allowed. Their recent results include wins against the Lynx and the Toronto Tempo, alongside losses to the Atlanta Dream. The Lynx, on the other hand, have struggled slightly, going 2-3 in their last five games, scoring an average of 84.0 points while allowing 87.0 points. Their recent results include a win against the Indiana Fever but losses to the Liberty and the Fever in their previous matchups.
When considering home and away performance, the Liberty have a 6-4 record in their last ten games at home, averaging 86.1 points scored and 81.8 points allowed. Conversely, the Lynx have a 5-5 record in their last ten away games, averaging 83.0 points scored and 84.1 points allowed. This indicates that while the Liberty have been relatively strong at home, the Lynx have been more inconsistent on the road.
In terms of injuries, the Liberty will be without Satou Sabally due to a concussion and Elizabeth Balogun for non-injury related reasons. The Lynx will also be missing Anastasiia Olairi Kosu due to a foot injury and Elena Buenavida, who is out due to a coach's decision. These absences could significantly impact the strategies employed by both teams.
The betting market reflects the competitive nature of this matchup, with DraftKings listing the Lynx as 3.5-point favorites. The total for the game is set at 174.5, with odds of -105.0 for the over and -115.0 for the under. The moneyline shows the Liberty at +140.0 and the Lynx at -166.0, indicating a slight edge for Minnesota.
As fans prepare for this exciting fixture, they should keep an eye on key players such as Breanna Stewart, who leads the Liberty with an average of 20.8 points per game, and Olivia Miles, who leads the Lynx with an average of 19.8 points per game. The performance of these stars, along with the impact of the injuries, will be crucial in determining the outcome of this matchup.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MIN -3.5 | 174.5 o -105 / u -115 | Minnesota Lynx -175 · New York Liberty +145 |
Injury report
- Satou SaballyOutConcussionNew York Liberty
- Elizabeth BalogunOutNot Injury RelatedNew York Liberty
- Anastasiia Olairi KosuOutFootMinnesota Lynx
- Elena BuenavidaOutCoach's DecisionMinnesota Lynx
Leaders
- PointsJonquel Jones21New York Liberty
- AssistsSabrina Ionescu7New York Liberty
- ReboundsJonquel Jones13New York Liberty
- PointsCourtney Williams18Minnesota Lynx
- AssistsCourtney Williams5Minnesota Lynx
- ReboundsCourtney Williams8Minnesota Lynx
Recent form
New York Liberty
Last 10: 6-4Streak W186.1 scored · 81.8 allowed per game2-3 at home
- W91-75at Minnesota LynxSep 27
- L65-83vs Atlanta DreamSep 24
- L84-95vs Atlanta DreamSep 22
- W106-69at Toronto TempoSep 20
- W93-81at Minnesota LynxSep 18
- W85-66vs Chicago SkyAug 29
- L60-79vs Golden State ValkyriesAug 28
- W109-102vs Indiana FeverAug 22
- L86-93at Chicago SkyAug 19
- W82-75at Connecticut SunAug 15
Minnesota Lynx
Last 10: 5-5Streak L183 scored · 84.1 allowed per game4-2 away
- L75-91vs New York LibertySep 27
- W86-66vs Indiana FeverSep 25
- L77-96at Indiana FeverSep 23
- W101-89at Connecticut SunSep 20
- L81-93vs New York LibertySep 18
- L81-89at Atlanta DreamAug 30
- L66-80vs Golden State ValkyriesAug 25
- W94-84at Washington MysticsAug 21
- W77-66at Golden State ValkyriesAug 20
- W92-87at Las Vegas AcesAug 16
Standings
| Team | Games behind | Lost | Streak | Win % | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | - | 11 | W1 | .750 | 33 |
| Golden State | 1 | 12 | W1 | .727 | 32 |
| Las Vegas | 2 | 13 | W7 | .705 | 31 |
| Dallas | 6 | 17 | W1 | .614 | 27 |
| Portland | 16 | 27 | W1 | .386 | 17 |
| Los Angeles | 17 | 28 | L2 | .364 | 16 |
| Phoenix | 17 | 28 | L1 | .364 | 16 |
| Seattle | 25 | 36 | L5 | .182 | 8 |
| Atlanta | - | 14 | W5 | .682 | 30 |
| Washington | 2 | 16 | W4 | .636 | 28 |
| Indiana | 2 | 16 | L1 | .636 | 28 |
| New York | 4 | 18 | L2 | .591 | 26 |
| Chicago | 14 | 28 | L1 | .364 | 16 |
| Toronto | 19 | 33 | L8 | .250 | 11 |
| Connecticut | 19 | 33 | W1 | .250 | 11 |
Box score
| Stat | Minnesota Lynx | New York Liberty |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-68 | 32-69 |
| Field goal % | 38 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 8-20 | 10-32 |
| Three-point % | 40 | 31 |
| Free throws | 11-14 | 13-13 |
| Free throw % | 79 | 100 |
| Rebounds | 29 | 36 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 12 |
| Defensive rebounds | 18 | 24 |
| Assists | 19 | 19 |
| Steals | 8 | 7 |
| Blocks | 4 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 16 | 5 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 13 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 44 |
| Fouls | 19 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 19 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 0 | 99 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Quarter36-47Olivia Miles makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter37-47Olivia Miles makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter37-49Jonquel Jones makes two point shot
- 3rd Quarter37-52Leonie Fiebich makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jonquel Jones assists)
- 3rd Quarter39-52Courtney Williams makes driving layup (Olivia Miles assists)
- 3rd Quarter39-53Breanna Stewart makes free throw flagrant 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter39-54Breanna Stewart makes free throw flagrant 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter42-54Kayla McBride makes 26-foot three point jumper (Nia Brodie assists)
- 3rd Quarter44-54Napheesa Collier makes running layup (Aari McDonald assists)
- 3rd Quarter44-56Jonquel Jones makes two point shot
- 3rd Quarter47-56Kayla McBride makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot (Aari McDonald assists)
- 3rd Quarter49-56Aari McDonald makes driving layup (Courtney Williams assists)
- 3rd Quarter49-57Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter49-58Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter49-59Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter49-60Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter49-63Sabrina Ionescu makes 26-foot three pointer (Breanna Stewart assists)
- 3rd Quarter50-63Nia Brodie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter51-63Nia Brodie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter51-65Rebekah Gardner makes layup
- 3rd Quarter54-65Aari McDonald makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kayla McBride assists)
- 3rd Quarter54-68Sabrina Ionescu makes 25-foot three pointer
- 3rd Quarter55-68Kayla McBride makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter56-68Kayla McBride makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter56-71Marine Johannes makes 23-foot three point jumper (Leonie Fiebich assists)
- 4th Quarter58-71Courtney Williams makes 19-foot pullup jump shot
- 4th Quarter60-71Courtney Williams makes 20-foot pullup jump shot (Natasha Howard assists)
- 4th Quarter60-73Breanna Stewart makes 14-foot jumper (Marine Johannes assists)
- 4th Quarter60-76Marine Johannes makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 4th Quarter60-78Jonquel Jones makes 2-foot layup (Sabrina Ionescu assists)
- 4th Quarter60-79Jonquel Jones makes free throw 1 of 1
- 4th Quarter61-79Napheesa Collier makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter64-79Aari McDonald makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot (Courtney Williams assists)
- 4th Quarter64-81Jonquel Jones makes layup (Sabrina Ionescu assists)
- 4th Quarter66-81Napheesa Collier makes 10-foot jumper (Courtney Williams assists)
- 4th Quarter66-83Sabrina Ionescu makes driving layup
- 4th Quarter66-85Breanna Stewart makes two point shot
- 4th Quarter68-85Courtney Williams makes driving layup
- 4th Quarter68-87Breanna Stewart makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 4th Quarter71-87Kayla McBride makes 27-foot three point jumper (Aari McDonald assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours New York Liberty, below favours Minnesota Lynx.
Venue
- Barclays CenterBrooklyn, NY
- Attendance17593
- OfficialsCharles Watson, Tim Greene, Tiara Cruse, Ryan Sassano
Elsewhere
- WNBA playoffs 2026: Schedule, scores for every game
- No. 8-seeded Liberty sweep top-seeded Lynx 87-71 in quarterfinals, advance to WNBA semifinals
- Liberty clobber Lynx to become first 8-seed to beat 1-seed in WNBA history
- WNBA playoffs 2026: How the Liberty swept the Lynx and the Fever stayed alive
- WNBA offseason 2026: Guides for every eliminated team
- Clark's monster effort helps Fever force Game 3 with Aces
- Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell post big games to help Fever even series with 99-89 win over Aces
- Indiana Fever vs. Las Vegas Aces - Game Highlights