The New York Liberty won the 2024 WNBA championship over the Minnesota Lynx following a hard-fought five-game finals series. More than nine months later, the Liberty and Lynx finally meet again.
Lynx forward Napheesa Collier said the 2024 WNBA Finals rematch has been a long time coming.
‘It should’ve been the first game of the season,’ she said matter-of-factly on Tuesday.
The Lynx host the defending champion Liberty on Wednesday, the first of four regular-season games. Although the Lynx and Liberty kept the majority of their rosters intact, Wednesday’s matchup will look a little different as the Liberty battle the injury bug. Breanna Stewart (right leg), Nyara Sabally (right knee) and Kennedy Burke (right calf) have all been ruled. Liberty starting guard Natasha Cloud is also questionable due to an illness.
Minnesota (22-5) and New York (17-8) sit atop the WNBA standings, but both teams are looking to bounce back from losses. The battered Liberty trailed by as many as 30 points in their wire-to-wire loss to the Dallas Wings on Monday. Meanwhile, the Lynx dropped their first home game of the season after falling short in comeback bid vs. the Atlanta Dream at Target Center on Sunday.
The Liberty haven’t lost three consecutive games this season and the Lynx have not dropped back-to-back contests this year. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 WNBA Finals rematch:
Breanna Stewart injury update: Is Stewart playing vs. Lynx?
Stewart was ruled out of Wednesday’s matchup with a right knee bone bruise, Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello confirmed ahead of the matchup. Stewart suffered the injury less than four minutes into the Liberty’s 101-99 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on July 26. She appeared to suffer a non-contact injury as she ran up the court in transition. Brondello said Stewart avoided ligament damage, but noted that the Liberty will be cautious with her. There’s no timetable for her return to the court.
End of Q1: Liberty 24, Lynx 24
We are all square after one quarter. The Liberty led by as many as eight points in the first quarter, but the Lynx went on a 7-0 run to tie things up.
Marine Johannes leads the Liberty with a game-high eight points, while Sabrina Ionescu added six points. New York is collectively shooting 62.5% from the field and 3-of-7 from three.
The Lynx’s Alanna Smith hasn’t missed so far. She’s up to a team-high seven points, shooting 3-of-3 from the field and 1-of-1 from three. Napheesa Collier added six points and Jessica Shepard has six off the bench. The Lynx are shooting 52.6% from the field, 3-of-6 from three and are out-rebounding the Liberty, 9-6.
‘Pay The Players’ signs on display
The crowd is rocking at Target Center for the 2024 WNBA Finals rematch between the Lynx and Liberty and the fans have something to say. Multiple spectators held ‘Pay the Players’ signs on Wednesday as WNBA stars continue to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with the league before the current contract expires at the end of the 2025 season.
The message went mainstream at the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, when Team Caitlin Clark and Team Napheesa Collier donned matching pregame shirts that read, ‘Pay Us What You Owe Us.’ After Collier was named the MVP of the WNBA All-Star Game, the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse chanted ‘Pay them!’
What time is the New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx?
The Minnesota Lynx will host the New York Liberty at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, July 30 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
How to watch New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx: TV, stream
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Target Center (Minneapolis)
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: The ESPN App
New York Liberty starting lineup
Minnesota Lynx starting lineups
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