The New York Liberty faced the Minnesota Lynx in their third regular-season matchup, a rematch of the 2024 <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/wnba/”>WNBA championship final, with the Lynx prevailing once again. On August 16, 2025, at the Target Center, Minnesota clinched an 86-80 victory, improving to 3-0 against New York this season. Courtney Williams led the Lynx with a game-high 26 points.
Disparity in Free Throws Sparks Officiating Debate
The game was marked by a significant controversy stemming from an uneven distribution of free-throw opportunities. The Lynx attempted a season-high 33 free throws, successfully making 23, while the Liberty managed just eight attempts, converting five. This discrepancy became a critical factor in the six-point decision.
The uneven whistle calls sparked frustration for New York, particularly given both teams’ relatively low rankings in personal fouls drawn this season. Minnesota stands ninth, and New York is just behind at tenth in that category, which makes the stark difference in free-throw attempts puzzling.
Sabrina Ionescu Responds to Officiating Concerns
Sabrina Ionescu, the Liberty’s star point guard, addressed the issue following the game, highlighting the difficulty of winning under such circumstances.
“It’s tough to win a game in this league with eight free throws, but we’ll continue to drive, get into the paint. We’ll continue to focus on what [we can control],”
she said, acknowledging the challenges facing her team.
Ionescu emphasized the factors beyond their influence, including missing players and the free throws they did not receive.
“There are so many things out of our control, like the players we don’t have and the free throws we didn’t get,”
she added.
Impact of Injuries on the Liberty and Lynx Performances
The Liberty are navigating their season without three of their regular rotation players, most notably forward Breanna Stewart, who has been sidelined since July 26 due to a knee injury. New York’s performance has suffered in her absence, falling to a 4-6 record without the two-time MVP and losing ground on their previous No. 2 seed standing.
Meanwhile, the Lynx have also faced setbacks, including an ankle sprain to MVP favorite Napheesa Collier. Despite this, Minnesota continues to excel under head coach Cheryl Reeve who remains optimistic.
“Hugely… I’m super proud of us, I’m super proud of those that have Phees back. That makes Phee feel better, her foot feels great now… it’s like I tell Oliver, eat some ice cream, your foot feels better,”
Reeve remarked, reflecting her positive outlook on the team’s resilience.
Lynx Maintain Momentum Amidst Challenges
The Lynx have remained undefeated during Collier’s absence, securing four consecutive wins and a six-game winning streak overall. Their victory pushed Minnesota to a league-best 28-7 record, extending their lead over the competition this season. The team’s ability to sustain high performance despite injuries contrasts with the Liberty’s recent struggles.
Frustration Mounts for Liberty as Free Throw Issue Amplifies Challenges
For the Liberty, already shorthanded and striving to meet high expectations, the perceived officiating bias adding to their difficulties only deepened frustrations. While focusing on factors within their control, the team must also contend with the impact of inconsistent foul calls and key absences moving forward in the season.