TEAM NOTABLES

On Wednesday, the New York Liberty (1-5) fell to the Minnesota Lynx (2-6), 84-78, in the first game of their 2022 three-game season series.

At Target Center, the Liberty finished on 39.4% (28-71) shooting from the field, 28.1% (9-32) from three, and 72.2% (13-18) at the free throw line.

In the contest, the Liberty set a season high for offensive rebounds in a game with nine en route to a season-high 39-rebound night, overall.

Led by a combined 16 assists from Sabrina Ionescu and Sami Whitcomb, New York finished with a season-high 24 assists as a team.

Up Next: The New York Liberty will head to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Seattle Storm on Friday, May 27 at 10 p.m. ET.

KEY RUNS

Q1: Minnesota went on a 17-6 run from the 2:45 mark through the end of the period.

Q2: The Liberty opened the quarter with a 15-7 run through the 3:45 mark of the quarter.  

Q3: The Lynx went on an 11-5 run from the 9:41 mark of the period through the 4:35 mark of the period. The Liberty then ended the third on a 17-7 run to enter the fourth up 65-63.

Q4: From the 4:35 mark of the third through the 8:00 mark of the fourth, New York went on a 23-8 run. Minnesota then went on a 15-4 run from the 8:00 mark of the period through the 2:49 mark of the fourth.

PLAYER NOTABLES

Four Liberty players scored in double figures in tonight’s game (Howard, Allen, Han, Ionescu).

Natasha Howard finished with a season-high 23 points on 66.7% (8-12) shooting from the field, including 50% (2-4) from deep, and six rebounds.

Rebecca Allen finished with a season-high 21 points on 40% (8-20) shooting from the field in her first start of the season. Highlighted by her 12-point third quarter, which included four made threes, she shot 50% (4-8) from deep as well as added two assists and two steals.

Han Xu dropped a season-high 11 points on 83.3% (5-6) shooting from the field. She also connected on one of her two three-point attempts and pulled down a career-high seven rebounds.

Sabrina Ionescu flirted with a double-double as she finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.

Sami Whitcomb set a new career-high in assists with her game-high nine-assist performance.

Crystal Dangerfield added four rebounds and four assists off the bench in her Liberty debut.

For Minnesota, Sylvia Fowles finished with 14 points, 14 rebounds, two steals, and a block.