Liberty finally get some time at free throw line

The New York Liberty faced the Minnesota Lynx in a rematch following a contentious previous game where the Lynx attempted 33 free throws compared to the Liberty's eight. Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello acknowledged the team had submitted footage from that game to the league office and hinted at potential home-court advantage for the officiating in the upcoming contest.

During Tuesday night's game, which the Liberty won 85-75, the officiating appeared to shift noticeably. An early indicator was when Jonquel Jones went to the free-throw line in the second quarter after the Lynx committed their fifth foul of the frame, prompting a roar from the home crowd. The Liberty finished with 18 free-throw attempts from 16 Lynx personal fouls, while the Lynx shot 14 free throws from 10 Liberty fouls.

Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve commented on the ongoing rivalry, particularly focusing on Courtney Williams' trash talk and personal motivation. Reeve stated that Williams' feelings are genuine, stemming from her poor performance in last fall's WNBA Finals decider, where she scored only four points on 2-for-14 shooting with five turnovers.