The Minnesota Lynx beat the New York Liberty 90-85 Saturday in a tightly contested game that swung on turnovers, third-quarter runs and a decisive fourth-quarter push by Kayla McBride. The victory marked a physical, veteran performance for Minnesota against a Liberty team that rallied from a second-quarter deficit to briefly seize control.
Turnovers and momentum swings decided the first half
Minnesota wrested control in the second quarter, converting New York miscues into points. The Lynx scored 14 points off 10 Liberty turnovers in the period and took a 10-point lead into halftime. New York had opened the game by getting to the paint, but Minnesota’s defense and transition play shifted the balance midway through the half.
Ionescu sparks a Liberty comeback
Sabrina Ionescu sparked New York’s third-quarter rally, scoring 19 of her team-high 25 points in the period by attacking the paint and finishing through contact. The Liberty trimmed the deficit to six before Minnesota answered with a run that pushed the lead to a game-high 15.
“I think she wants to punch the paint,” Chris DeMarco said. “She’s always been all around, passing, rebounding, shooting. So she found the right rhythm and I think our whole team kind of took off.”
McBride closes it out
Kayla McBride took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of her own 25 points in the period. Her quick-release threes and late baskets proved difficult for New York’s defense to contest. In the closing minute, the Liberty had multiple opportunities to tie or take the lead, including a sequence where Courtney Williams missed a transition layup but kept the possession alive with an offensive rebound. New York forced another miss but couldn’t secure the follow; McBride then grabbed the rebound that led to two free throws by Olivia Miles and ultimately sealed the game.
- Final: Lynx 90, Liberty 85
- Top scorers: Kayla McBride 25, Sabrina Ionescu 25
- Turning point: Second-quarter stretch where the Lynx scored 14 points off turnovers
| Quarter | Key detail |
|---|---|
| 1st | Liberty attack the paint |
| 2nd | 10 NY turnovers generate 14 Minnesota points |
| 3rd | Ionescu scores 19 in the quarter |
| 4th | McBride scores 14 to close out the win |
The result underscores Minnesota’s ability to convert opponent mistakes into points and to rely on veteran scoring down the stretch. For the Lynx and their fans, the win is a reminder of the roster’s depth and late-game composure as the WNBA season progresses. For New York, the loss shows both the impact of turnovers and the difficulty of closing against experienced opponents when shots aren’t falling consistently late.
The teams have a recent history of high-stakes matchups, including their 2024 Finals meeting, and Saturday’s game continued that rivalry with a physical, closely matched performance from both clubs.
