Breanna Stewart poured in 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists as the New York Liberty claimed a stunning 91-75 road victory over the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx on Sunday in the opening game of their first-round playoff series. The 16-point margin marked the Liberty's largest road playoff win since 2015.
The result matters because it gives the Liberty momentum heading into Game 2 on Tuesday at home at the Barclays Center, where they can close out the series. The Lynx entered as the No. 1 seed with homecourt advantage, making the upset significant in a best-of-three first round where every game is pivotal.
Leonie Fiebich added 16 points and Sabrina Ionescu contributed 13 as three Liberty players reached double figures. After the win, Stewart said: "We were ready to go. I think our entire group, we knew what it was going to take and everything that we've been through prepared us for this moment." She noted that the noise at Target Center was challenging but the team maintained composure.
Elsewhere on Sunday, the No. 3 seed Las Vegas Aces defeated the No. 6 Indiana Fever 102-85. Reigning MVP A'ja Wilson led the Aces with 38 points and 16 rebounds, becoming the first player in WNBA history to record at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in multiple playoff games. The first round continues Tuesday and Wednesday with Game 2s.