The Liberty beat the Lynx 93-81 as Breanna Stewart posts 24 points and 10 rebounds

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Breanna Stewart scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Jonquel Jones had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and the New York Liberty beat the slumping Minnesota Lynx 93-81 on Friday night in a possible first-round playoff matchup.

Stewart moved past Sue Bird and into ninth place on the WNBA's career scoring list with 6,806 points. She's five points behind Cappie Pondexter for eighth place.

Stewart also had four assists and three steals. Sabrina Ionescu scored 17 points, with six assists and three steals, Pauline Astier scored 14, and reserve Marine Johannes 13.

Olivia Miles scored 20 points to lead Minnesota, losers of three straight. Kayla McBride scored 16, Napheesa Collier 14, Courtney Williams 12 and Natasha Williams 11.

Miles converted a three-point play for a 69-67 Lynx lead with 8:18 left. Stewart responded with a 3-pointer on New York's following possession and the Liberty never trailed again.

New York outscored the Lynx 23-12 the rest of the way.

Despite the loss, Minnesota retained the WNBA’s top seed while the Liberty moved up to sixth.

New York (25-16) has won eight of its last 11. The Lynx (31-10) have dropped three straight for the first time this season.

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, foreground, shoots during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Minnesota Lynx, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) blocks a shot-attempt by New York Liberty guard Pauline Astier, right, during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles, center right, and New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones, center left, hug during the final seconds of a WNBA basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

New York Liberty guard Marine Johannes, top, and Minnesota Lynx guard Maya Caldwell, bottom, battle for possession of the ball during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) dribbles downcourt as Minnesota Lynx guard Maya Caldwell (3) defends during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

NEW YORK (AP) — The longtime chief executive of the Council of Fashion Designers of America announced Friday that he is stepping down, days after he was filmed physically restraining two protesters during an altercation at a New York runway show.

“I am enormously proud of what we have built together and believe this is the right moment for both me and the organization to begin a new chapter,” Steven Kolb said in a statement.

Kolb is stepping down after two decades leading the council, which is known as the fashion industry’s main trade organization.

The incident Sunday involved the top fashion executive forcibly restraining two employees of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and putting his hands over their mouths at the runway show for Cos, a brand owned by H&M. It quickly stunned many in the fashion world.

Kolb, who is well known and respected in the New York fashion world, earlier apologized for his actions. He also had announced he was taking a leave from his job pending an investigation.

CFDA described Kolb as a “dedicated leader and tireless champion of American fashion.”

“We respect Steven’s decision to step down and are grateful for his many years of leadership and service to the CFDA and our industry,” the association said in a statement on social media.

Moira Colley, senior director of media relations for PETA in New York, said earlier in the week that the group planned to meet with Kolb to discuss ending the use of wool and animal skins in clothing. The organization initially planned on filing a police report against him, but changed course after visiting police and consulting attorneys.

Colley also said the group recognized Kolb’s previous involvement in getting fur banned from runway shows on the CFDA schedule and hoped he would again “do the right thing.”

Andrija Barak had been trying to disrupt the runway show on Sunday, calling out slogans about the use of wool. In the video, Kolb is seen covering her mouth with his hands and restraining her with both his arms and a leg over her body as he seeks to let the show continue.

Separately he is seen pushing Mason Melito and also putting his hands over his mouth.

FILE - Steven Kolb attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the, "In America: An Anthology of Fashion," exhibition on May 2, 2022, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)