Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart lead Liberty wire-to-wire past Lynx

New York grabbed the game before Minnesota settled

The Liberty established the shape of the game in the opening minutes. Jones scored the first five New York points, first on a two-point basket at 9:36 of the first quarter and then on a 23-foot three at 8:50, and the Lynx spent the rest of the evening trying to erase that early cushion.

Minnesota did have short bursts of traction. Courtney Williams scored twice in a 29-second span midway through the quarter, Nia Brodie added consecutive baskets, and the Lynx trimmed the deficit to three late in the period. Each time, New York answered cleanly. Stewart converted a three-point play, Han Xu knocked down a 26-footer, and another Han three in the final minute helped send the Liberty into the second quarter up 26-21.

That control carried into the half. Ionescu buried a 27-foot three, Stewart kept the scoreboard moving at the line, and Jones continued to punish single coverage around the basket. By the break, New York had a 49-37 lead, built less on a long-range avalanche than on steadier finishing. The Liberty scored 44 points in the paint for the game and shot 46.4 per cent overall, numbers that reflected how often they got to useful spots on the floor.

Minnesota’s best push cut the margin to seven — and no closer

The Lynx made their strongest run in the third. After Leonie Fiebich opened the half with a three for New York, Minnesota answered through Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier, and then McBride struck again from deep before Aari McDonald finished a layup at 4:20. That sequence cut the Liberty lead to 56-49, the closest Minnesota would come after halftime.

New York’s response was decisive and, just as importantly, orderly. Stewart made four free throws over the next two minutes, refusing to let the score tighten any further. Ionescu then stretched the floor twice, hitting from 26 feet at 1:44 and again from 25 feet with 14.8 seconds left in the quarter. Those shots restored breathing room and sent the Liberty to the fourth ahead 68-56.

Any lingering suspense faded quickly. Marine Johannes opened the fourth with a three, Stewart added a jumper, Johannes hit another from beyond the arc, and Jones finished through contact for a three-point play at 6:10. In a little under three minutes, New York had turned a 12-point game into a 19-point one at 79-60. Minnesota kept working — Williams and McDonald supplied late baskets, and McBride hit a three in the final 90 seconds — but the Liberty had already reasserted the terms of the game.

Our take: the Liberty won this one with balance and pressure points

The stat line that best explains the result is not New York’s three-point percentage, which was a modest 31.3 per cent. It is the combination of interior scoring, rebounding and clean work at the foul line. The Liberty finished with a 44-28 edge in paint points, a 36-29 advantage on the glass and a perfect 13-for-13 night on free throws. That is a sturdy profile, especially against a Minnesota team that actually shot better from three at 40 per cent.

Jones was the game’s clearest matchup problem. She scored 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting, grabbed 13 rebounds and gave New York an efficient hub near the basket. Stewart matched her with 21 points, reached that total by going 9-for-9 at the line, and added four assists and two blocks. Ionescu’s 18 points and seven assists supplied the backcourt direction, while Johannes chipped in eight points in eight minutes to help swing the start of the fourth quarter.

For Minnesota, Williams was the steadiest source of offense with 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Collier and McBride added 14 each. But the Lynx never found enough finishing outside those pockets. They shot 38.2 per cent from the field, managed only 28 points in the paint and turned a near-even turnover game into a lopsided points-off-turnovers deficit, conceding 16 and scoring only five the other way. If there is an encouraging detail for Minnesota, it is that the three-point shooting was good enough to keep the score within reach for stretches. If there is an area the Liberty can still sharpen, it is ball security and perimeter efficiency; even in a convincing win, they finished with 13 total turnovers and were far more dominant inside than they were from long distance.

Scoring moments

1. 1st Quarter · 9:36

   Jonquel Jones makes two point shot

2. 1st Quarter · 8:50

   Jonquel Jones makes 23-foot three point jumper (Breanna Stewart assists)

3. 1st Quarter · 8:39

   Kayla McBride makes free throw 2 of 2

4. 1st Quarter · 7:38

   Jonquel Jones makes two point shot

5. 1st Quarter · 7:00

   Leonie Fiebich makes running layup (Sabrina Ionescu assists)

6. 1st Quarter · 6:31

   Napheesa Collier makes two point shot

7. 1st Quarter · 6:22

   Breanna Stewart makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot (Sabrina Ionescu assists)

8. 1st Quarter · 6:08

   Kayla McBride makes 17-foot pullup jump shot (Nia Brodie assists)

9. 1st Quarter · 5:51

   Pauline Astier makes driving layup (Breanna Stewart assists)

10. 1st Quarter · 5:34

    Sabrina Ionescu makes running layup (Pauline Astier assists)

11. 1st Quarter · 5:02

    Courtney Williams makes two point shot

12. 1st Quarter · 4:33

    Courtney Williams makes running layup

13. 1st Quarter · 3:51

    Sabrina Ionescu makes 12-foot driving floating jump shot (Pauline Astier assists)

14. 1st Quarter · 3:24

    Nia Brodie makes driving layup (Maya Caldwell assists)

15. 1st Quarter · 2:40

    Nia Brodie makes driving layup (Courtney Williams assists)

16. 1st Quarter · 2:31

    Breanna Stewart makes 2-foot layup (Sabrina Ionescu assists)

17. 1st Quarter · 2:31

    Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 1

18. 1st Quarter · 2:16

    Napheesa Collier makes 3-foot layup (Kayla McBride assists)

19. 1st Quarter · 1:49

    Natasha Howard makes running layup (Maya Caldwell assists)

20. 1st Quarter · 1:27

    Han Xu makes 26-foot three point jumper (Sabrina Ionescu assists)

21. 1st Quarter · 59.4

    Nia Brodie makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kayla McBride assists)

22. 1st Quarter · 59.4

    Nia Brodie makes free throw 1 of 1

23. 1st Quarter · 45.6

    Han Xu makes 25-foot three point jumper (Marine Johannes assists)

24. 2nd Quarter · 8:37

    Marine Johannes makes 4-foot two point shot

25. 2nd Quarter · 8:25

    Napheesa Collier makes free throw 2 of 2

26. 2nd Quarter · 7:50

    Olivia Miles makes 22-foot three point jumper

27. 2nd Quarter · 6:25

    Sabrina Ionescu makes 27-foot three point jumper (Breanna Stewart assists)

28. 2nd Quarter · 6:10

    Napheesa Collier makes 2-foot two point shot (Courtney Williams assists)

29. 2nd Quarter · 5:59

    Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2

30. 2nd Quarter · 5:59

    Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2

31. 2nd Quarter · 4:30

    Breanna Stewart makes 3-foot two point shot

32. 2nd Quarter · 4:16

    Courtney Williams makes 25-foot three pointer

33. 2nd Quarter · 4:09

    Jonquel Jones makes layup (Sabrina Ionescu assists)

34. 2nd Quarter · 4:09

    Jonquel Jones makes free throw 1 of 1

35. 2nd Quarter · 3:53

    Leonie Fiebich makes free throw 1 of 2

36. 2nd Quarter · 3:53

    Leonie Fiebich makes free throw 2 of 2

37. 2nd Quarter · 3:32

    Napheesa Collier makes 8-foot turnaround jump shot (Kayla McBride assists)

38. 2nd Quarter · 2:39

    Courtney Williams makes 13-foot pullup jump shot (Napheesa Collier assists)

39. 2nd Quarter · 2:39

    Courtney Williams makes free throw 1 of 1

40. 2nd Quarter · 2:25

    Jonquel Jones makes 13-foot two point shot (Pauline Astier assists)

41. 2nd Quarter · 2:08

    Pauline Astier makes running layup

42. 2nd Quarter · 1:46

    Sabrina Ionescu makes 24-foot running jump shot (Jonquel Jones assists)

43. 2nd Quarter · 1:42

    Olivia Miles makes free throw 1 of 2

44. 2nd Quarter · 1:42

    Olivia Miles makes free throw 2 of 2

45. 2nd Quarter · 1:01

    Jonquel Jones makes two point shot

46. 3rd Quarter · 8:50

    Leonie Fiebich makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jonquel Jones assists)

47. 3rd Quarter · 8:24

    Courtney Williams makes driving layup (Olivia Miles assists)

48. 3rd Quarter · 6:26

    Breanna Stewart makes free throw flagrant 1 of 2

49. 3rd Quarter · 6:26

    Breanna Stewart makes free throw flagrant 2 of 2

50. 3rd Quarter · 5:53

    Kayla McBride makes 26-foot three point jumper (Nia Brodie assists)

51. 3rd Quarter · 5:20

    Napheesa Collier makes running layup (Aari McDonald assists)

52. 3rd Quarter · 5:02

    Jonquel Jones makes two point shot

53. 3rd Quarter · 4:44

    Kayla McBride makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot (Aari McDonald assists)

54. 3rd Quarter · 4:20

    Aari McDonald makes driving layup (Courtney Williams assists)

55. 3rd Quarter · 4:09

    Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2

56. 3rd Quarter · 4:09

    Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2

57. 3rd Quarter · 2:22

    Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2

58. 3rd Quarter · 2:22

    Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2

59. 3rd Quarter · 1:44

    Sabrina Ionescu makes 26-foot three pointer (Breanna Stewart assists)

60. 3rd Quarter · 1:07

    Nia Brodie makes free throw 1 of 2

61. 3rd Quarter · 1:07

    Nia Brodie makes free throw 2 of 2

62. 3rd Quarter · 43.9

    Rebekah Gardner makes layup

63. 3rd Quarter · 33.8

    Aari McDonald makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kayla McBride assists)

64. 3rd Quarter · 14.8

    Sabrina Ionescu makes 25-foot three pointer

65. 3rd Quarter · 3.8

    Kayla McBride makes free throw 1 of 2

66. 3rd Quarter · 3.8

    Kayla McBride makes free throw 2 of 2

67. 4th Quarter · 8:54

    Marine Johannes makes 23-foot three point jumper (Leonie Fiebich assists)

68. 4th Quarter · 8:42

    Courtney Williams makes 19-foot pullup jump shot

69. 4th Quarter · 8:13

    Courtney Williams makes 20-foot pullup jump shot (Natasha Howard assists)

70. 4th Quarter · 7:31

    Breanna Stewart makes 14-foot jumper (Marine Johannes assists)

71. 4th Quarter · 6:48

    Marine Johannes makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot

72. 4th Quarter · 6:10

    Jonquel Jones makes 2-foot layup (Sabrina Ionescu assists)

73. 4th Quarter · 6:10

    Jonquel Jones makes free throw 1 of 1

74. 4th Quarter · 6:01

    Napheesa Collier makes free throw 2 of 2

75. 4th Quarter · 4:58

    Aari McDonald makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot (Courtney Williams assists)

76. 4th Quarter · 4:18

    Jonquel Jones makes layup (Sabrina Ionescu assists)

77. 4th Quarter · 4:00

    Napheesa Collier makes 10-foot jumper (Courtney Williams assists)

78. 4th Quarter · 3:38

    Sabrina Ionescu makes driving layup

79. 4th Quarter · 2:08

    Breanna Stewart makes two point shot

80. 4th Quarter · 1:59

    Courtney Williams makes driving layup

81. 4th Quarter · 1:38

    Breanna Stewart makes 14-foot pullup jump shot

82. 4th Quarter · 1:26

    Kayla McBride makes 27-foot three point jumper (Aari McDonald assists)