The New York Liberty weren't just looking to bounce back Friday night. They were determined to make sure history would have to wait.Behind a dominant performance from Breanna Stewart, the Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 99-86 at Barclays Center, handing the WNBA's top team its fifth loss of the season while preventing Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve from becoming the league's all-time winningest coach.Stewart was sensational from the opening tip, delivering one of her best performances of the season as New York reminded the rest of the WNBA why the defending champions remain a serious title threat.Breanna Stewart takes over against league-leading LynxWhenever New York has needed its biggest star this season, Stewart has answered. Friday was no different.The former MVP poured in 36 points while setting the tone from the opening quarter, helping the Liberty snap Minnesota's momentum just days after winning the Commissioner's Cup championship. Stewart scored 16 points in the first quarter alone, giving the Liberty an early spark before Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu helped carry the offense the rest of the way.Jones finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds for another dominant double-double, while Ionescu added 17 points as New York's Big Three overwhelmed one of the WNBA's stingiest defenses. Against a team that entered the night with the league's best record, the Liberty looked every bit like championship contenders.Liberty flip the game before halftimeFor much of the first half, the matchup looked exactly like fans expected between two title contenders. Minnesota actually grabbed a 47-46 lead with just over three minutes remaining before halftime.That's when everything changed. New York closed the second quarter on a stunning 13-2 run, turning a one-point deficit into a commanding 59-49 halftime advantage.Jones started the surge with a three-point play before Pauline Astier capped it with a driving layup just before the buzzer. The Lynx never fully recovered.Every time Minnesota threatened to make another push, the Liberty responded.Cheryl Reeve's historic night will have to waitMuch of the pregame attention centered around Reeve. The longtime Lynx coach entered Friday tied with Mike Thibault for the most regular-season coaching victories in WNBA history at 379. One more win would have given Reeve sole possession of the record.Instead, she'll have to wait at least one more game. Her next opportunity comes Monday night when Minnesota hosts the Chicago Sky.Ironically, that game falls exactly 13 years after Thibault originally broke Van Chancellor's career wins record, adding another layer of history to Monday's matchup.MORE: Sophie Cunningham celebrates Fourth of July with swimsuit photo after viral weekMinnesota still missing its biggest starThe Lynx continue to play without reigning MVP candidate Napheesa Collier, who has yet to appear this season following offseason surgery on both ankles. There is encouraging news, however. Collier returned to practice this week and appears to be nearing her long-awaited season debut.Minnesota has also been without forward Dorka Juhász after she suffered a foot injury during EuroLeague play earlier this spring. Even with those absences, the Lynx entered Friday with the WNBA's best record, making New York's convincing victory even more impressive. Kayla McBride led Minnesota with 18 points, while Courtney Williams chipped in 16.Liberty proving they're still the team to beatTuesday's Commissioner's Cup championship reminded everyone what New York is capable of. Friday reinforced it. Despite playing without Satou Sabally, who remains in concussion protocol after suffering a head injury last week, the Liberty controlled stretches of the game against one of the league's elite teams.Stewart continues to play at an MVP level, Jones remains one of the WNBA's most dominant interior forces and Ionescu provides another All-Star playmaker capable of taking over at any moment. The victory improved New York to 13-8 and sent a message to the rest of the league.The road to another WNBA championship still runs through Brooklyn. And on the night Cheryl Reeve hoped to make history, it was Breanna Stewart and the Liberty who stole the spotlight.More WNBA news:Sophie Cunningham celebrates Fourth of July with swimsuit photo after viral weekSophie Cunningham reveals how she feels about White House using her finger-pointing memeSophie Cunningham questions WNBA after Caitlin Clark's surprising omission from anniversary posterOlivia Nelson-Ododa "stuns" with pregame outfit before Connecticut Sun gameAngel Reese inches closer to WNBA suspension after latest technical foul vs. Mystics