New York Liberty Make WNBA History as First No. 8 Seed to Eliminate No. 1 Seed

By Yemi Odulana · Published September 30, 2026

The New York Liberty have made WNBA playoff history after becoming the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed, completing a stunning first-round sweep of the Minnesota Lynx in the 2026 playoffs.

New York secured the historic achievement on Tuesday night, September 29, defeating the top-seeded Lynx 87-71 in Game 2 at Barclays Center to win the best-of-three series 2-0. The result sent Minnesota, which finished the regular season with the league's best record, out of the postseason while sending the Liberty into the semifinals. (MPR News)

The victory was particularly significant because no No. 8 seed had previously eliminated a No. 1 seed during the WNBA's 30-year history. Although the league has used different playoff structures over the years, the current format creates a direct first-round matchup between the top and eighth seeds. (The Guardian)

Liberty Complete Historic Sweep

The Liberty entered the series after finishing eighth in the regular-season standings with a 26-18 record, while Minnesota claimed the No. 1 seed after going 33-11.

Despite the substantial difference in regular-season records, New York immediately demonstrated that its low seeding did not necessarily reflect the experience and talent available on its roster.

In Game 1, played in Minnesota on September 27, the Liberty defeated the Lynx 91-75. Breanna Stewart delivered an outstanding performance with 34 points and 12 rebounds, while New York produced a strong second-half display to take the opening game. (New York Liberty)

The victory was already historic because it made the Liberty the first No. 8 seed to win a playoff game against a No. 1 seed.

Two days later, New York finished the job.

Jonquel Jones Leads Game 2 Victory

Jonquel Jones was central to the Liberty's decisive Game 2 performance.

The veteran forward recorded 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Breanna Stewart also scored 21 points. Sabrina Ionescu contributed 18 points and seven assists as New York controlled much of the contest.

The Liberty established control early, opening the game with a 9-1 run and eventually taking a 49-37 advantage into halftime.

Minnesota attempted to fight back during the second half, but New York consistently maintained its lead. The Lynx were unable to establish the offensive rhythm that had helped them finish the regular season at the top of the league.

The final 87-71 score completed one of the most significant upsets in WNBA postseason history. (CBS Sports)

A Remarkable Turnaround for New York

The Liberty's historic run is notable because their 2026 regular season was highly inconsistent.

New York began the campaign 3-4 before putting together an eight-game winning streak. The team also won the Commissioner's Cup, becoming the first two-time champion of the competition.

However, the Liberty subsequently went through a difficult stretch and eventually finished the regular season with consecutive losses that left them in eighth place.

According to the WNBA's official playoff preview, New York finished the regular season with a 26-18 record. Minnesota, meanwhile, secured its second consecutive No. 1 seed with a 33-11 record. (WNBA)

The Liberty therefore entered the postseason as the lowest-seeded team but with a roster containing several established stars.

Experience Made the Difference

One factor separating the Liberty from many traditional eighth seeds was their playoff experience.

New York's core included former MVP Breanna Stewart, veteran center Jonquel Jones and All-Star guard Sabrina Ionescu. Stewart and Jones had already played major roles in the Liberty's championship-winning 2024 season.

The team's pedigree meant that its No. 8 position did not necessarily tell the entire story of its potential.

The Liberty also had a strong history against Minnesota during the season. The teams had met three times in the regular season, with New York winning two of those encounters.

That familiarity appeared to carry into the postseason.

Minnesota's Historic Season Ends Early

For Minnesota, the defeat ended a remarkable regular season on a disappointing note.

The Lynx won 33 games and secured the top seed for a second consecutive year. They were also led by rookie guard Olivia Miles, who had enjoyed an exceptional debut season and was unanimously named the WNBA's Rookie of the Year.

However, Miles struggled against New York in the two playoff games.

She scored only five points in Game 2, shooting 1-for-8 from the field. New York's size and defensive pressure made it difficult for Minnesota's young guard to create the opportunities she had routinely generated during the regular season.

Minnesota's early exit also continued a difficult recent postseason trend. Despite consistently producing strong regular-season records, the Lynx have struggled to convert that success into deep playoff runs.

New Chapter in WNBA Playoff History

The Liberty's achievement is especially notable because the WNBA's playoff structure has changed several times.

Under earlier formats, a No. 8 seed did not always have a pathway to face the No. 1 seed in the opening round. The league's current structure, introduced in 2022, places the top eight teams into the postseason regardless of conference and creates the direct 1-versus-8 first-round matchup.

Consequently, the 2026 Liberty became the first team to accomplish what had previously been impossible in the current format: eliminate the league's No. 1 seed as the No. 8 seed.

New York also became only the third No. 8 seed in WNBA history to win any playoff game, according to the Liberty's official account of Game 1.

Liberty Move into Semifinals

With the sweep complete, New York now moves into the WNBA semifinals.

The Liberty will face the winner of the first-round series between the Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics. The semifinal round is scheduled as a best-of-five series under the WNBA's 2026 playoff structure.

The historic victory has transformed New York's postseason from an eighth-seed entry into a championship challenge.

For Minnesota, the season is over despite finishing with the league's best record. For New York, however, the remarkable upset represents another chapter in the franchise's recent postseason history and gives the Liberty an opportunity to continue their title defence.

The No. 8 seed have already rewritten the WNBA record book. The next question is how far this historic playoff run can go.