Although Napheesa Collier wasn't focused on the WNBA Finals rematch storyline on Wednesday night, she still led her Minnesota Lynx to a big 100-93 win over the New York Liberty. Does a win in July over a contender truly mean that much, however? Is this an undeniable statement victory?
The answer -- and without question -- is yes.
Breanna Stewart is out with a leg injury. There is a chance the Liberty star could miss the remainder of the 2025 season. Without Stewart, New York's chances of defeating Minnesota in a potential WNBA Finals rematch would drop significantly.
Sabrina Ionescu played at an MVP level on Wednesday evening in Minnesota. The guard led all scorers with 31 points while shooting 11-20 from the field and 3-8 from beyond the arc. She added five rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block. In total, the Liberty had five players score in double-digits.
Yet, New York still came up short in Minnesota. The Lynx made a statement.
Napheesa Collier further strengthened her MVP argument with a 30-point, nine-rebound outing. She connected on 11 of her 16 field goal attempts and two of her four three-point shots. Collier also recorded two assists, three blocks and one steal.
Kayla McBride added 24 points. Courtney Williams dished out 13 assists. The Lynx simply know how to play as a team. There likely isn't an opponent in the WNBA that would be favored to defeat them in a playoff series at the moment.
Neither teams' defense was spectacular on Wednesday night. The Liberty had a strong offensive performance, but it was still not enough against the Lynx. New York had minimal room for error as Minnesota's all-around attack led to the win.
The Lynx have surpassed the Liberty as a better team. Sure, one may argue that Minnesota already accomplished that feat. After all, the Lynx entered the game with the best record in the WNBA by a significant margin. Defeating the defending champions was the icing on the cake, though. The Lynx sent a message without saying a thing.
The Lynx can bounce back, however. During the span of August 10-August 19, the teams will go head-to-head in three consecutive contests. Why did the WNBA schedule three games in a row between the teams? That's anyone's guess, but it will feel like a postseason series. New York could recapture momentum in August, but Minnesota can make another big statement by winning at least two of the contests.