Sachin Shankar Yadav 
In a much-anticipated WNBA Finals rematch at Barclays Center, the Minnesota Lynx defeated the New York Liberty 83-71, led by outstanding performances from DiJonai Carrington and Kayla McBride.
Important Players:
- With 18 points, Kayla McBride led the Lynx and made four three-pointers in pivotal situations.
- Recently acquired by Minnesota, DiJonai Carrington scored 15 points off the bench, including eight during a decisive run in the third quarter. Carrington also contributed a block, two steals, three assists, and six rebounds.
- Off the bench, Natisha Hiedeman scored 13 points and provided vitality during crucial Game periods.
Game Flow:
- After a fiercely contested first half, New York led 38–36 at the half.
- Before Minnesota’s game-changing 24-point run over six minutes, which included five Lynx three-pointers and a three-point play, New York had a 47-40 lead early in the third quarter. Minnesota led 66-57 going into the fourth after this change put them ahead 64-54.
- Minnesota’s momentum was largely driven by Carrington’s defense and transition scoring, which helped them reach a maximum lead of 16 points in the last period.
Absent Stars:
- Napheesa Collier, the MVP candidate, was sidelined for Minnesota’s game due to an ankle sprain.
- Breanna Stewart, the two-time MVP, was absent from New York due to a bruised right knee bone.
Stat Highlights:
- With eight points, nine rebounds, seven assists, four steals, and three blocks, Alanna Smith had a solid all-around performance.
- The Lynx dominated a stretch of the second half in which they outscored New York 25–6, forcing 18 Liberty turnovers and turning them into 22 points.
- With 14 points, Natasha Cloud led New York.
Context:
- The victory was significant for the Lynx because it was their first meeting at Barclays Center since New York’s decisive Game 5 victory in the 2024 championship.
- Due to odd scheduling, the teams are playing four games in three weeks, and the Lynx have so far dominated their head-to-head matches.
- With New York behind by a number of games, the victory cemented Minnesota’s hold on the top spot in the WNBA standings.
Extra Events:
- Before the game, a video tribute was given to Jaylyn Sherrod, a former guard for Liberty who is currently with Minnesota.
- At halftime, New York honored other alumni and inducted former star Tari Phillips into its ring of honor.
In a game influenced by injuries and recent playoff history, Minnesota defeated the shorthanded Liberty thanks to a strong defense, clutch bench play, and astute second-half shooting.
