Lynx Defeat Liberty 100-93 in WNBA 2025, Coach Reeve Celebrates 'Satisfying Victory' for Minnesota
The Minnesota Lynx managed to hold off the New York Liberty's comeback in their first 2024 season meeting, securing a hard-fought 100-93 victory at home. The win marked a return to winning ways for the Lynx at Target Center, following their recent upset loss to the Atlanta Dream.
Key contributors for the Lynx included Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride, who scored 30 and 24 points respectively. Collier, the league's top scorer and All-Star MVP, demonstrated her prowess with 11 field goals and 6 free throws. McBride, on the other hand, showcased her versatility as a scorer, helping the team maintain their offensive momentum.
The Lynx's home-court dominance was evident, with the team having lost just one regular-season home game all season. This dominance proved crucial in the face of the Liberty's late charge, as the Lynx refused to let go of their lead.
The game was a playoff-caliber matchup, reflecting the recent WNBA Finals rivalry intensity. Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve noted that fans were treated to a "heck of a basketball game." New York, despite dealing with key injured players like Breanna Stewart, showed resilience, but their injury struggles seemed to impact their comeback capability.
The victory gave Minnesota a five-game lead atop the standings and extended the Liberty’s losing streak to three games. The teams will meet three more times this season, continuing their high-stakes rivalry.
Adam McBride, the Lynx head coach, emphasized the importance of protecting their home court before anything else. He mentioned that the team was not in need of much motivation for the game, adding that they "just weren't going to lose two home games in a row." McBride believes the team has a clear mindset and is not swayed by external narratives or side stories.
The Lynx led by 13 points at the start of the fourth quarter but had to hold off a late charge from the Liberty. Reeve also noted that New York played well and that the time they spent together post-Dallas game seemed to benefit them.
In summary, the Lynx held off the Liberty comeback through balanced scoring leadership, strong home performance, and capitalizing on the Liberty’s injury issues, asserting themselves as the class of the league so far.
Sports were at the center of the Minnesota Lynx's 100-93 victory over the New York Liberty, a playoff-caliber matchup that showcased both teams' basketball prowess. Napheesa Collier, the WNBA's top scorer and All-Star MVP, led the Lynx with 30 points, while Kayla McBride contributed 24 points and showcased her versatility as a scorer, helping the team maintain their offensive momentum. This victory extended the Liberty’s losing streak to three games and gave Minnesota a five-game lead atop the WNBA standings, with the teams set to meet three more times this season.
