Lynx Defeat Liberty 100-93 in Long-Awaited WNBA Finals Rematch

The Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty, the top two teams in the WNBA and rivals from the 2024 Finals, finally faced off in late July 2025, nearly two-thirds into the 44-game season. The Lynx won the first meeting 100-93 at Target Center, improving their record to 23-5 and extending their lead for the top seed, while the Liberty fell to 17-9, now tied with the Phoenix Mercury for second place. Both teams have expressed frustration with the WNBA's scheduling, which delayed their first matchup until late in the season despite being Finals opponents, with Lynx star Napheesa Collier and coach Cheryl Reeve calling it a significant oversight. The two teams are set to meet four more times over the next three weeks, including a stretch of three games in a row, creating an intense, playoff-like schedule. Despite the bitterness surrounding a controversial foul call in the 2024 Finals that Lynx coach Reeve said cost her team the championship, players from both teams emphasized moving past last season's grievances to focus on the current season. This rematch series is highly anticipated given the teams' history and the competitive stakes for playoff positioning.