Laughter rippled through the arena, especially among several attendees wearing “Stewart walked” shirts. Nine months after their 2024 WNBA Finals showdown — and a controversial overtime Game 5 loss coach Cheryl Reeve said was “stolen” from her team — Lynx fans were more than ready for the rematch.

Napheesa Collier had 30 points and nine rebounds, Kayla McBride added 24 points, and the Minnesota Lynx beat the short-handed New York Liberty 100-93 in a rematch of last year's WNBA Finals.

When last we saw the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty together on the court nine months ago, it was Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA finals, a contest where a late traveling non-call followed by a questionable defensive foul went against the Lynx and the title went to New York.