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What happened with the Minnesota Lynx in the playoffs?

The Minnesota Lynx, entering the 2026 playoffs as heavy favorites after a dominant regular season, suffered a stunning first-round exit at the hands of the underdog New York Liberty in a two-game sweep. The collapse was largely tied to the sudden decline of rookie sensation Olivia Miles, who had led the league in Rookie of the Year voting and MVP consideration with standout regular-season numbers—including 49% shooting from the field and 38% from three.

However, in the playoffs, Miles struggled mightily, shooting just 20% from the field and 25% from deep while averaging a mere eight points, one assist, and five rebounds over two games. Her ineffectiveness forced coach Cheryl Reeve to bench her in favor of Nia Brodie late in Game 2, effectively removing the Lynx’s most dynamic offensive weapon from the lineup.

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