The Liberty and the Lynx have had a few days to prepare for each other since their season openers. Both squads have recorded a win and are hungry for a second. Here are five things you need to know about their primetime matchup (7PM ET, ESPN2). BUY TICKETS

1. This game will be a good test for the Liberty

Seven of the Liberty’s next eight games are teams that made the Playoffs last year. With the playoff structure instituted last year where wins are more important than where you end up in your conference, each game is a must-win. Laimbeer’s squad is typically laser-focused, and the Liberty are excited to step up, be on the attack and play aggressively, Liberty center Amanda Zahui B said.

“We go in with the mentality that every game is a Playoff game, and once we get to the Playoffs we take it to the next level,” she said. “We’re going hard in practice, running a lot, challenging each other mentally and physically.”

The Lynx will put the Liberty’s offense to the test and challenge them defensively, but New York appears up for the early-season challenge.

2. Epiphanny Prince

Prince only played in six games last season due to recovering from a torn ACL, but is back at full-throttle to start the 2017 season. In New York’s season opener against the Stars, Prince scored 11 points and grabbed three boards. Tina Charles typically shoulders much of the scoring responsibility with opposing teams double-teaming her, but having Prince as another dominant scoring option will open more room on the floor for the guards to work and it will give Charles more scoring options, forcing the opposing teams to be more honest on defense, Kiah Stokes said.

“I think that’s what our offense needed,” Stokes said. “I think having more options is going to help us out tremendously.”

Prince can be the X-factor that elevates the Liberty versus the Lynx and beyond.

3. The Lynx and Liberty have an unexpected rivalry

Bill Laimbeer and Cheryl Reeve are friends off the court, but on the court they are all business. Reeve served as an Assistant Coach for the Detroit Shock, under then head coach Laimbeer, from 2006 until 2008, and in 2009 she was promoted to general manager of the club. They have eight championships between the two of them, two of which they won together, and Reeve has three of her own with the Lynx.

“Every time we play New York it’s very intense,” Augustus laughed. “You want to be able to go back and beat your mentor and show him you have learned everything that you need to be successful.”

Augustus said the team loves the way coach Reeve competes and the team mirrors that energy.

4. The Lynx will need to contain Tina Charles

In the season opener against the Stars, the scoring was evenly distributed for New York, but Charles led the way with 12 points to go along with seven boards and two assists. If the Liberty have five different scoring options, the Lynx will still focus on trying to stop Charles.

“If we can make her night difficult hopefully it can throw off their offensive flow and we’ll be able to take advantage of that,” Augustus said.

5. The Lynx have defense and Reeve

Part of the reason the Lynx have been an upper-echelon team is that they have experience, they play for each other and push each other in practice. Despite that magic formula, Lindsay Whalen and Augustus were quick to say that the success they have had as a team is a reflection of how great Reeve is a coach.

“It starts with her, and her ability to pull the best out of her players and put us in situations to be successful,” Augustus said.  “Individually, we have some of the best competitors in this league, and we compete against each other every day.”

Whalen says their defensive chemistry is a factor and their communication helped them in their season opener.

“Knowing where everyone is going to be and talking pulled us through some times when we didn’t get the rebounds we wanted and we missed some shots that we normally make,” Whalen said. “Our defense was the backbone of the game, which it is every night, but it was evident on Sunday.”