When the number eight seed New York Liberty faced the number one seed Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, tensions soared as veterans clashed with rookies. Breanna Stewart proved the critics wrong to give the Lynx 63.6% odds of winning before the game, as she led the Liberty to a 91-75 win. For the Lynx rookie Olivia Miles, it was a humbling experience as she was seen trying to trash talk Stewie as the Lynx fell to veteran experience.

With around 8:19 left in the fourth quarter, Breanna Stewart reminded everyone that playing smart often pays off, as she drew a foul from Olivia Miles with the shot clock winding down. The ESPN broadcast noticed Miles trying to engage with the usually calm Stewart as the Liberty held a 68-62 lead. While the exact exchange is not known, Stewart can be seen shrugging off the tense interaction as teammates helped her up, not engaging with Miles, per an Instagram post by espnW.

The game was still close when Stewart took her free throws. Stewart converted one of the two FTs to make the score 69-62. From here on, the Liberty maintained control to win the game.

This sequence captures exactly how Stewart and Co. frustrated the Lynx the entire night, something that even Minnesota HC Cheryl Reeve was cognizant of, per New York Liberty beat writer Myles Ehrlich on X.

“We did a solid job in the first half, and then we just fouled, fouled, fouled,” Reeve said. “We can’t give her [Breanna Stewart] 12 free throws. Fouling at the end of the shot clock is just not smart.”

The Lynx committed 23 personal fouls as compared to the Liberty’s 20, with Natasha Howard and Napheesa Collier picking up five personal fouls each.

Stewart reminded everyone why she is a former two-time MVP, as she finished with a game-high 34 points and 12 rebounds, while adding six assists. Stewart was able to dictate play on both ends of the floor despite being primarily guarded by 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier all game.

“We knew the shots that we were going to get,” Stewart said after the game, per AP. “We had a few days to really practice that and be intentional, and whenever we were able to draw two – kick it to the open person and shoot it with confidence.”

Stewart was assisted in the Liberty’s offense by Leonie Fiebich, who added 16 points to the team’s total. Sabrina Ionescu scored another 13 points, while Jonquel Jones added another eight points. But Stewart clearly did most of the heavy lifting on the offense. Her defense was on point too, as Stewie added two steals and two blocks.

It was a night marred by poor shooting for the Lynx, as Kayla McBride missed her first five shots from beyond the arc, and ROTY frontrunner Olivia Miles could only convert three of her 12 shots from the field, scoring a modest 11 points in the game. Minnesota could only register an FG% of 42% as compared to Liberty’s 51%. Lynx’s efficiency from beyond the arc was even more dismal, as they converted just 35% of their three-point attempts, compared to Liberty’s 52%.

Nia Brodie was the top scorer for the Lynx as she added 16 points off the bench, playing for 19 minutes in the game. Kayla McBride added another 14 points.

This is certainly not the display expected from a Lynx side that has dominated the regular season on both ends of the floor.

“I thought we even struggled in the first half even though we had a lead,” Lynx HC Reeve said. “It was a little too much grinding. I think there’s some easier things we can do.”

Minnesota must put this loss behind them, as New York will host them in the next game on Tuesday, in a must-win matchup for the Lynx to keep the series alive for a game 3 back in the Target Center.

The Lynx will certainly look to avoid a surprise exit like last year, when they lost to the Phoenix Mercury. The Liberty are hoping to cause a major upset, riding on the fine form of Stewart. The Lynx will need Olivia Miles can quickly find her footing as Game 2 approaches.