Liberty-Dream Game 1 Follows New York's Historic Sweep of the No. 1 Lynx

Photo: WNBA.com. Official Breanna Stewart headshot, New York Liberty.

The New York Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx by 16 points in both games of a first-round sweep, and the minus-32 was the worst margin ever by a No. 1 seed in a best-of-three series, per Her Hoops Stats via CBS Sports. Sunday, the Liberty open a best-of-five semifinal against the Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena.

New York is the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in the league's 30-year history, per the AP. Minnesota led for only 3 minutes and 23 seconds across the series, per ESPN. Game 1 tips at 2 p.m. ET on ABC, with Breanna Stewart averaging 27.5 points per game this postseason, per ESPN's Alexa Philippou, and the Dream holding a 2-1 regular-season edge after back-to-back wins in New York to close the year.

The sweep was not close. The Liberty opened Game 2 on a 9-1 run, and Minnesota never led in that game, per CBS. Jonquel Jones had 21 points and 13 rebounds, Stewart scored 21, and Sabrina Ionescu added 18 points and seven assists in the 87-71 closeout, per CBS, which The Dyme logged in the Jones Take. Atlanta brings a different frontcourt test, with Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese on the glass.

Atlanta arrives as the higher seed. The Dream took the last two regular-season meetings, 95-84 on Sept. 21 and 83-65 on Sept. 23 in New York, after New York won 104-90 in Atlanta on June 11. Stewart sat the second September game to rest for the playoffs. "Neither team puts much stock in the value of those two games, other than they provided fresh film to both sides," the AP reported. Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard are averaging a combined 42.5 points this postseason, per ESPN.

The steal sheet is the other Atlanta number. The Dream led the league at 9.1 steals per game and turned those into 18.1 points per game off turnovers, per the AP. Against Washington they scored 27 points off miscues in Game 1 and 23 more in the clincher. New York just held Olivia Miles to 1 of 7 at the rim across two games after she shot 56.7 percent there on 7.9 attempts per game in the regular season, per CBS. Atlanta ranked second to Golden State in defensive rating at 104.5, per ESPN, and the Dream (112.9) and Liberty (112.7) were fifth and sixth in offensive rating. ESPN's Michael Voepel wrote that if Atlanta establishes an offensive edge, New York might have trouble keeping up.

Stewart and Jones won the 2024 title alongside Ionescu and Leonie Fiebich, per ESPN. Atlanta is in the semifinals for the first time since 2018, per the AP, and the Dream's only player with real playoff experience was Jordin Canada before Dan Padover signed DeWanna Bonner in late August. Bonner has played 100 career playoff games, the most in league history. The Mystics sweep gave the Dream their first playoff win since 2016, per the AP. State Farm Arena seats more than 17,000 for the first two games, compared with about 3,500 at Gateway Center, and the Dream have won seven straight and 11 of their last 12, per ESPN.

The home and road splits favor Atlanta. The Dream went 15-7 at home and 15-7 on the road, while New York went 14-8 at home and 12-10 on the road, per ESPN. ESPN's BPI gives Atlanta a 63.1 percent chance to reach the Finals and New York 36.9 percent. Both teams swept their first round by similar margins. The Dream beat Washington by 15 and 18 for a plus-33, and the Liberty went plus-32 against Minnesota.

New York is making its third semifinal trip in four seasons, as a No. 8 seed that went 26-18, the best winning percentage by a No. 8 since the top-eight format began in 2016, per CBS. Gray and Canada are two of the quickest players in the league, per Voepel, and forwards Reese and Naz Hillmon are quick as well. Sunday's first question is whether the Liberty's length can slow that pace at State Farm Arena.

Sources

• CBS Sports: Lynx fall to Liberty in historic upset. Jack Maloney, Sept 30, 2026. Minus-32 the worst margin ever by a No. 1 seed in a best-of-three series, per Her Hoops Stats; both games by 16; Liberty opened Game 2 on a 9-1 run and Minnesota never led; 87-71 Game 2 with Jones 21 points and 13 rebounds, Stewart 21, Ionescu 18 points and seven assists; Miles 1 of 7 at the rim vs 56.7% on 7.9 per game in the regular season; Liberty 26-18, best winning percentage by a No. 8 since the 2016 format.
• FOX Sports / AP: Liberty face the Dream in Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals. Oct 3, 2026. First No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in the league's 30-year history; third semifinal in four years; Dream first semifinal since 2018; Canada the only player with playoff experience before Bonner; Bonner 100 playoff games, most in league history; Mystics sweep was the Dream's first playoff win since 2016; 9.1 steals and 18.1 points off turnovers per game; 27 and 23 points off miscues vs Washington; Stewart rested the second September game; "fresh film" line; State Farm Arena more than 17,000 vs Gateway Center about 3,500.
• ESPN: WNBA playoffs 2026 semifinals preview. Michael Voepel, Alexa Philippou and staff, Oct 3, 2026. Game 1 Sunday 2 p.m. ET on ABC; regular-season results (104-90 Liberty June 11; 95-84 and 83-65 Dream Sept 21 and 23); BPI Atlanta 63.1% to reach the Finals, New York 36.9%; Minnesota led 3:23 across the series; Stewart 27.5 points per game this postseason; Dream beat Washington by 15 and 18; Gray and Howard combined 42.5; Dream seven straight wins and 11 of 12; home 15-7 and road 15-7 for Atlanta, 14-8 and 12-10 for New York; Atlanta second to Golden State in defensive rating at 104.5; offensive ratings 112.9 and 112.7; Voepel on Atlanta's offensive edge; Liberty core of Stewart, Jones, Ionescu and Fiebich.
• The Dyme: Jonquel Jones' 21 and 13 Finish the Liberty's Sweep of the No. 1 Lynx. Sep 29, 2026.
• Photo: WNBA.com. Official Breanna Stewart headshot, New York Liberty.