If you searched for Minnesota Lynx vs New York Liberty match player stats, you likely want to know who played well and who struggled. The short answer is that the Liberty beat the Lynx in both games of their 2026 first-round playoff series, 91–75 and 87–71. Breanna Stewart led Game 1 with 34 points and 12 rebounds. Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu starred in Game 2.
This guide puts the key numbers in one place. You will see top scorers from both teams, simple team comparisons, and plain-English explanations of terms like field goal percentage and second-chance points. Whether you are a new fan, a student learning basketball English, or someone catching up on the series, you can read it in a few minutes.
Quick Answer
In the 2026 WNBA first round, New York won 2–0. Breanna Stewart scored 34 points in Game 1 and 21 in Game 2. Jonquel Jones added 21 points and 13 rebounds in Game 2. For Minnesota, Courtney Williams scored 18 in Game 2, and Napheesa Collier scored 12 and 14 points.
Why Do People Get Confused by This Matchup?
Many readers mix up the games. The two teams met three times in about ten days, so the numbers can blur together:
- September 18: a regular-season game in Minnesota. The Liberty won 93–81.
- September 27 (Game 1): the first playoff game, in Minnesota. The Liberty won 91–75.
- September 29, US time (Game 2): the second playoff game, in New York. The Liberty won 87–71.
Seeding adds to the confusion. Minnesota was the No. 1 seed and New York was No. 8, so the sweep surprised many fans. This article focuses on the two playoff games.
Minnesota Lynx Player Stats
The Lynx shot poorly in both games, and their stars had quiet nights.
Game 1 (75 points)
- Nia Brodie: 16 points, 6-of-7 shooting, 4-of-5 from three-point range
- Kayla McBride: 14 points, 6 assists
- Napheesa Collier: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 6-of-14 shooting
- Olivia Miles: 11 points, 8 rebounds, 4 turnovers
- Courtney Williams: 9 points, 5 assists, 3-of-12 shooting
Game 2 (71 points)
- Courtney Williams: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists
- Napheesa Collier: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 6-of-14 shooting
- Kayla McBride: 14 points, 3 steals
- Nia Brodie: 10 points
- Olivia Miles: 5 points, 1-of-8 shooting
New York Liberty Player Stats
The Liberty had balanced scoring, strong rebounding, and good free-throw shooting.
Game 1 (91 points)
- Breanna Stewart: 34 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 11-of-18 shooting
- Leonie Fiebich: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 6-of-7 shooting
- Sabrina Ionescu: 13 points, 6 assists, 2 steals
- Jonquel Jones: 8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
- Pauline Astier: 7 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists
Game 2 (87 points)
- Breanna Stewart: 21 points, 9-of-9 free throws, 4 assists
- Jonquel Jones: 21 points, 13 rebounds, 9-of-14 shooting
- Sabrina Ionescu: 18 points, 7 assists, 3 steals
- Marine Johannes: 8 points
- Fiebich: 7 points, Han Xu: 6 points
Team Stats Comparison Table
| Stat | Lynx G1 | Liberty G1 | Lynx G2 | Liberty G2 |
| Final score | 75 | 91 | 71 | 87 |
| Field goal % | 41.8% | 50.8% | 38.2% | 46.4% |
| Three-pointers | 9-of-26 | 13-of-25 | 8-of-20 | 10-of-32 |
| Total rebounds | 29 | 45 | 40 | 42 |
| Assists | 20 | 25 | 19 | 19 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 21 | 12 | 13 |
| Points in the paint | 22 | 30 | 28 | 44 |
| Second-chance points | 5 | 9 | 3 | 14 |
Game 1 was decided by shooting and rebounding. Game 2 was decided inside, where New York scored 16 more points in the paint.
When Should You Look at Each Type of Stat?
Different numbers answer different questions:
- Points: Use these to see who scored the most.
- Shooting percentage: Use this to see who scored efficiently. Stewart’s 11-of-18 in Game 1 was more impressive than a high total on many missed shots.
- Rebounds: Use these to see who controlled the ball after misses.
- Assists and turnovers: Use these to judge teamwork and ball care.
- Team stats: Use these to understand why a team won, not just who scored.
10+ Examples of Reading These Stats
- Stewart, Game 1: 34 points and 12 rebounds is a double-double, meaning 10 or more in two categories.
- Stewart’s free throws: 10-of-12 in Game 1 and 9-of-9 in Game 2, so 19-of-21 for the series.
- Jones, Game 2: 13 rebounds, six of them offensive, helped New York score 14 second-chance points.
- Ionescu, Game 2: 18 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals shows value beyond scoring.
- Fiebich, Game 1: 6-of-7 shooting and 4-of-5 from three-point range was a very efficient night.
- Brodie, Game 1: She matched Fiebich’s 16 points on the same 6-of-7 shooting for Minnesota.
- Collier: She made 6-of-14 in both games, so 12-of-28 overall (42.9%). Her scoring was 12 and 14, below what fans expect from a star.
- McBride: She scored 14 in each game, 28 total, the most for Minnesota in the series.
- Williams: 3-of-12 in Game 1 versus 8-of-17 in Game 2 shows how one player’s night can change completely.
- Miles: She had 8 rebounds in Game 1 but also 4 turnovers, a mixed stat line.
- Game 1 halftime: Minnesota led 44–40, but New York won the second half 51–31.
- Paint points, Game 2: 44 for New York versus 28 for Minnesota shows who won inside.
Common Mistakes When Reading Match Stats
- Looking only at points. A player can score 14 on 6-of-14 shooting and still hurt her team.
- Ignoring small samples. Six-of-seven shooting is great, but it is only seven shots.
- Mixing regular-season and playoff games. The September 18 game is a separate result.
- Judging a series by one game. Williams looked very different in Game 1 and Game 2.
- Forgetting turnovers. New York had 21 turnovers in Game 1 but still won because it shot and rebounded better.
- Overlooking minutes. The numbers here do not include playing time, so check the full box score on the official WNBA website for each player’s minutes.
Memory Trick: The Four S’s
Use this quick checklist for any player’s stat line:
- Score: points
- Shoot: field goal and three-point percentage
- Share: assists
- Secure: rebounds and turnovers
If a player does well in three of the four, she probably had a strong game.
American vs British English
Your search used the word “match.” In American English, basketball is played in a game, not a match. British English uses “match” for sports like football, tennis, and rugby, and some fans use it for basketball too. Both words are understood.
A few related differences:
- Box score (American) is also called a scorecard or match report in British usage.
- Playoffs (American) is often written play-offs in British English.
- Stats is the short form of statistics in both.
Similar Terms You May See
- Box score: a table of every player’s numbers for one game
- Stat line: one player’s numbers, such as “21 points, 13 rebounds
- Double-double: 10 or more in two categories
- Second-chance points: points scored after an offensive rebound
- Points in the paint: points scored close to the basket
- Plus-minus: how the score changed while a player was on the court
Final Verdict
New York clearly won the stat battle. Stewart and Jones gave them star-level production, Ionescu and Fiebich added timely scoring, and the team rebounded and scored inside better than Minnesota. Minnesota had bright spots in Brodie, McBride, and Williams. But Collier’s shooting and the team’s field goal percentage (41.8% and 38.2%) were too low against a strong defense.
FAQs:
Who won the Lynx vs Liberty playoff series?
The New York Liberty won 2–0, with scores of 91–75 and 87–71.
Who scored the most points in the series?
Breanna Stewart scored 55 points across the two games (34 and 21).
Who was Minnesota’s top scorer?
Kayla McBride had the most total points for the Lynx with 28. Nia Brodie (16) and Courtney Williams (18) led Game 1 and Game 2.
Did Napheesa Collier have a double-double?
No. She had 12 points and 5 rebounds in Game 1, and 14 points and 7 rebounds in Game 2.
Who had double-doubles in the series?
Stewart in Game 1 (34 points, 12 rebounds) and Jonquel Jones in Game 2 (21 points, 13 rebounds).
What was the regular-season result between the teams?
The Liberty won 93–81 in Minnesota on September 18.
What is a double-double in basketball?
It means a player reaches 10 or more in two stat categories in one game, usually points and rebounds.
Remember This
- New York won the series 2–0 as the No. 8 seed against the No. 1 seed.
- Stewart led the series with 55 points.
- Jones dominated the boards in Game 2.
- Minnesota shot under 42% in both games.
- New York won the paint battle 44–28 in Game 2.
- Always check shooting percentage, not just total points.
Conclusion:
The numbers tell a clear story. Minnesota had talent and a 1 seed, but New York shot better, rebounded better, and scored more inside. Stewart’s 34-point opener and Jones’s 13-rebound Game 2 were the biggest individual performances.
When you read any match or game stat line, start with the Four S’s: score, shoot, share, secure. That habit helps you see who really played well, not just who scored the most. For full box scores with minutes, check the official WNBA game pages.
Autumn Gray is a bestselling storyteller admired for emotional novels, expressive writing, and memorable characters. Her inspiring books celebrate love, resilience, hope, and the transformative power of imagination and literature.
