Sunday was a measuring stick opportunity for the Liberty.<\/p>\n
New York welcomed the Lynx to Barclays Center for the first time since Game 5 of the 2025 WNBA Finals.<\/p>\n
But this time, the Lynx left Brooklyn as the victors, handing the Liberty a 83-71 loss as part of the WNBA\u2019s inaugural rivalry week.<\/p>\n
The Liberty led by two at halftime but couldn\u2019t match the Lynx\u2019s aggressiveness in the second half in a game that was missing Napheesa Collier (ankle) and Breanna Stewart (bone bruise.)<\/p>\n
The Liberty have yet to beat last year\u2019s runners-up, who are pulling away in the standings for the top seed in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich, right, defends Lynx forward Jessica Shepard (15) on Aug. 10, 2025. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post<\/p>\n
With the Liberty sitting six games behind the Lynx in the WNBA standings, it seems like at this point, if the trend of the season continues, that New York won\u2019t catch up to Minnesota for the top seed in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
The Liberty and Lynx have both denied that the two teams are rivals, despite exchanging blows in a 2024 WNBA Finals that was marred with controversy.<\/p>\n
Both have noted that there\u2019s simply not enough history between the two franchises to consider this a legitimate feud between these two teams.<\/p>\n
Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) defends Lynx forward Alanna Smith (8) on Aug. 10, 2025. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post<\/p>\n
Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison (21) is defended by Lynx forward Alanna Smith (8) on Aug. 10, 2025. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post<\/p>\n
But while the players and coaches have downplayed this matchup, fans have seemingly leaned into it.<\/p>\n
At Minnesota last month, some Lynx fans wore T-shirts that read, \u201cEveryone watched Minnesota get robbed\u201d \u2014 alluding to controversial officiating during the WNBA Finals series.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Liberty fans haven\u2019t been too fond of Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve\u2019s recent quips.<\/p>\n