New York Liberty sweep the Minnesota Lynx 87-71, 1st No. 8 seed to oust a No. 1 in WNBA playoffs

NEW YORK (AP) — It was a roller coaster regular season for the New York Liberty, who finished as the eighth-seed in the playoffs.

That didn't matter to them as they knew that the playoffs were a whole new affair.

New York pulled off a historic upset, becoming the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in the league’s 30-year history by completing the two-game sweep of the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night with an 87-71 victory in Game 2 of the quarterfinals.

“We know we’re not a traditional eight seed. We understand once the playoffs come, it’s a new season,” said Sabrina Ionescu. "We have more to do.”

Next up for the Liberty is a semifinals matchup against either Atlanta or Washington. The Dream are up 1-0 with Game 2 of that series on Wednesday night.

The Liberty's Big 3 of Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones were dominant on Tuesday night. The trio combined to score or assist on 70 of the team's points — one less than the Lynx had in total.

Those same three stars helped lead New York to its first championship in franchise history two years ago. Now they are looking to try and do it again, from a much harder spot. They'll have to start the best-of-five semifinals on the road again.

“We have bigger goals we want to accomplish,” Ionescu said. “Tonight we took steps in the right direction. Our best basketball is yet to come. We know there’s so much better basketball to be played."

That's a scary thing for the rest of the league.

“It feels good, we understand who we are as a team,” Jones said. “We’re not listening to outside noise, we understand that we can do a lot of great things. We feel like we can play with anybody and beat anybody. That’s the mindset we have moving forward."

A year after losing in the first round to Phoenix after going up 1-0 in that series, New York was determined not to have that happen again. They had a rough regular season with a new coach in Chris DeMarco. But the team said they were learning from their mistakes and peaking at the right time.

“Tonight showed that we have been taking those steps in the right direction,” Jones said. “Good for those things to materialize in a game that matters so much.”

The Liberty were up five points after one quarter and led 40-35 with 2:39 left in the half. New York scored nine of the final 11 points in the second quarter to go up 49-37 at the break.

New York was up 52-39 with 6:26 left in the third when Stewart drove to the basket and was hit in the face by Olivia Miles as she tried to block the shot. Stewart was down for a minute as the officials reviewed the play and upgraded the play to a flagrant-1 foul.

As Stewart walked off the court, she raised her hands to the sellout crowd of 17,593, who serenaded her with “M-V-P!” chants. Stewart hit both free throws.

Minnesota couldn’t get closer than seven points the rest of the way.

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart gives a signed jersey to rapper Meek Mill after winning Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Lynx, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Liberty players huddle after winning Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Lynx, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones goes up to the basket while Minnesota Lynx forward Nia Brodie (12) defends during the second half of Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

MIAMI (AP) — Former NFL star wide receiver Antonio Brown is scheduled to be in a Miami courtroom Wednesday to accept a plea deal will let him avoid prison time on a reduced charge in an attempted murder case, according to his attorney.

Defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh has said Brown will plead no contest to aggravated assault and be sentenced to probation. He also said adjudication will be withheld, meaning Brown will not be considered a convicted felon.

Brown could have faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the original charge. Eiglarsh has said the agreement with prosecutors was too good to turn down. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office said previously that details would be clarified at the hearing.

Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after a celebrity boxing match in Miami on May 16, 2025, and firing two shots at a man he was in a fistfight with earlier, according to an arrest warrant. Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu told investigators that one of the bullets grazed his neck.

Brown has said on social media that he was defending himself from an attack and others were trying to steal jewelry from him.

Florida’s Stand Your Ground law allows people who believe they face death or serious injury to use deadly force to defend themselves without a duty to retreat.

Richard Cooper, an attorney for Nantambu, has called the plea deal a fair one. He has said Nantambu forgives Brown and would not cooperate with law enforcement.

Brown, 38, spent 12 years in the NFL and was an All-Pro wide receiver who last played in 2021 for Tampa Bay, including winning a Super Bowl with quarterback Tom Brady.

Over the course of his career, much of it spent with Pittsburgh, he had 928 receptions for more than 12,000 yards and accounted for 88 total touchdowns, including punt returns and one pass.

During a 2021 game with Tampa Bay against the New York Jets, Brown took off his jersey, shoulder pads and gloves and ran off the field, leading to his release by the Buccaneers and effectively ending his career.

Brown has dealt with several legal problems over the years. He previously was accused of battery of a moving truck driver, several domestic violence charges, failure to pay child support and other incidents.

Brown was extradited in November 2025 from Dubai, where he has business interests, after an arrest warrant on the attempted murder charge was issued in June of the same year.

Former NFL player Antonio Brown wears a hood over his face as he speaks with his attorney Mark Eiglarsh before a court hearing Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Former NFL player Antonio Brown wears a hood over his face before a court hearing Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Former NFL player Antonio Brown speaks with his attorney Mark Eiglarsh before a court hearing Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

FILE - Former NFL star wide receiver Antonio Brown walks after being released from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, Nov. 13, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)