The Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty played a memorable and controversial series in the WNBA Finals last year, culminating in a Game 5 New York overtime win, an offseason for the Lynx to lament that they were robbed and to focus on revenge and a narrative that the two teams were destined for a Finals rematch in 2025.
That might happen. The four-game regular-season series between the teams, played in a tight bunch over the past three weeks, gave us some clues but still imperfect information.
The Lynx won three times, with New York avoiding a season sweep by winning Tuesday, but Liberty star Breanna Stewart missed all four games because of an injury and Lynx star Napheesa Collier missed all but the first Lynx win.
When healthy, these are still the two best teams in the WNBA. But as I talked about on Wednesday’s “Daily Delivery” podcast, we need to make space for other playoff possibilities aside from a Lynx-Liberty Finals rematch based on how this season has actually played out.
Here are some real possibilities:
- The Lynx and Liberty could meet in the semifinals instead of the Finals. The Lynx are virtual locks to be the No. 1 seed with a 6½ game lead over any other WNBA team. But the Liberty are in a pack of four teams separated by just a half-game in the 2-5 seeds, along with the Atlanta Dream (whom the Lynx face Thursday), Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces. If the Liberty fall to No. 4 or 5, it would put them on a course to play the Lynx in the semifinals, not the Finals, assuming each team won its quarterfinal matchup.
- Even advancing one round wouldn’t be assured for either squad, but particularly New York if it is the No. 4 or 5 seed, given the Liberty would likely face a team with a similar record in a dicey best-of-three series.
- If the Liberty are the No. 2 or 3 seed, which would put them on track to face the Lynx in the Finals, each team would still need to win two playoff series — including likely difficult matchups in the best-of-five semifinals — to clinch a Finals rematch.
- And it all depends on health. While Collier (ankle sprain) and Stewart (bone bruise) should both be back relatively soon from their injuries, they will need to stay healthy for both teams to be the best versions of themselves.
- If the Finals rematch does happen, it should be epic. The WNBA moved to a best-of-seven Finals format this season. The teams have traded barbs in recent weeks, with Courtney Williams taking a shot at the Liberty on her “Studbudz” stream and Liberty coach Sandy Brondello replying, “Of course we have a rivalry ... yes, we don’t like each other, it’s just how it is.” WNBA fans should hope it happens. But they should also brace themselves with the knowledge that it is not assured.
- The Twins put out a poor product on Tuesday, and it sure feels like the dog days are setting in.
- Also on Wednesday’s podcast, I took a look at three scenarios for how the Twins’ future can play out. The status quo middle option is the least appealing in my mind, especially after I crunched the numbers and realized the Twins entering Wednesday are 305-306 since the start of the 2022 season.
- Plus, I talked to Minnesota Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins, who gave a great assessment of the Gophers football program heading into its opener next week against Buffalo. The upshot: It’s a season of significant change for P.J. Fleck’s team.
- If MLB is headed toward an expanded 32-team league, it could mean division realignment as well. What that means yet is a long ways off, but it could impact the Twins.
- I enjoyed Patrick Reusse’s column on Gophers volleyball.
