NY Liberty advances to WNBA Playoffs: is Connecticut or Minnesota the better matchup?

The Sabrina Ionescu -led New York Liberty dispatched defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs.

Now, the Liberty await the winner of the Connecticut Sun - Minnesota Lynx series, which will play a deciding Game 5 on Tuesday.

But which team would provide the easier path for the Liberty to win its first Finals trophy? Here's a breakdown on how the Liberty fared this season against Connecticut and Minnesota, and what else to look for when the WNBA Final begin on Thursday.

New York Liberty hold season edge over Connecticut Sun

The Liberty played the Connecticut Sun four times during the regular season, going 3-1 against the Brionna Jones-led Sun. The Liberty's lone loss against Connecticut was on August 24, when they fell, 64-72.

The Sun may have trouble keeping up with the Liberty's offensive firepower, but may be helped out by their team defense.

The Sun averaged 80.1 points per game during the regular season, while holding opponents to an average of 73.6 point per game.

The Liberty, meanwhile, average the second most points per game in the regular season at 84.3, while giving up 76.5 points per game.

The Liberty also feature four players that average double figures in points: Sabrina Ionescu (18.2), Jonquel Jones (14.2), Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (11.8), and Breanna Stewart (15.2).

Minnesota has season edge on Liberty, beat squad for Commissioner's Cup

On paper, the Minnesota Lynx probably presents a stiffer challenge to the Liberty's quest for the WNBA championship.

The Lynx carry a 3-1 regular season record against the Liberty, which includes a 94-89 victory over the Liberty in the 2024 Commissioner's Cup .

The Lynx, which finished right behind the first-place Liberty with a 30-10 regular season record, averaged 82 points per game this season, while giving up 75.6.

A deeper look at the stats show that in the end, it may not matter if the Liberty face either Connecticut or Minnesota , as the Liberty may simply outscore either opponent.

The Liberty outscored opponents by an average of 9.2 points per game during the regular season.

The average margin of victory for the Connecticut Sun stood at 6.5, and the Minnesota Lynx' average margin of victory stood at 6.4 points.

Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Liberty advances to WNBA Playoffs: is Connecticut or Minnesota the better matchup?