There shall be no sweeps within the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs this yr, because of the No. 4-seed Las Vegas Aces dominating the No. 1-seed New York Liberty on Friday, beating them 95-81. Within the No. 2-seed-vs.-No. 3-seed collection, the Minnesota Lynx regained residence court docket benefit, beating the Connecticut Solar on the highway, 90-81.
Each Recreation 4s shall be performed on Sunday, however earlier than we put together for these video games, let’s recap how Las Vegas and Minnesota dealt with enterprise:
Aces’ third quarter seals Recreation 3
It was a fair contest in the course of the first half, with the Aces main 52-49 on the break. Sure, they’d management, however it was anybody’s sport. With their backs in opposition to the wall, Las Vegas made positive there can be a Recreation 4 by dominating the Liberty within the third quarter, outscoring them 21-6.
Las Vegas’ protection was suffocating, and it neutralized New York fully, forcing them to overlook 11-consecutive discipline targets to finish the quarter. Whereas the third was the worst span for the Liberty, they struggled offensively all night time. Sabrina Ionescu scored simply 4 factors and didn’t get on the scoreboard till the fourth.
In the meantime, the Aces had 4 starters in double figures, and the Sixth Participant of the 12 months Tiffany Hayes scored 11 factors off the bench. As common, A’ja Wilson was the star of the present for the Aces, scoring 19 factors and grabbing 14 rebounds, main the crew in each classes.
Shut-out video games are at all times troublesome, and the Aces reminded us what it’s like when a champ feels threatened and the way exhausting it’s to finish a dynasty. New York possible will play significantly better offensively on Sunday, however they’ll should play considered one of their finest video games of the yr to get rid of the Aces on the highway. If not, we’ll be heading to a winner-take-all Recreation 5, and instantly, New York will really feel all of the strain, risking a choke job and blowing a 2-0 lead.
Phee-nomenal
If a few of her performances throughout this collection left you interested by how good Napheesa Collier is, this one ought to put any doubts, questions or considerations to relaxation. Scoring 26 factors together with 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block, Collier did all the things, minus moping the ground, to verify her crew would win Recreation 3 and regain management of the collection.
There are few gamers within the Girls’s or Males’s Nationwide Basketball Leagues which are as intentional as Napheesa Collier. Not a dribble wasted. pic.twitter.com/pdN620oTBV
— anna (@annaeknutson) October 5, 2024
It’s not straightforward to go on the highway and beat Connecticut, however Minnesota managed the tempo and tempo of the sport. They edged the Solar in factors within the paint, and Connecticut struggled from deep, taking pictures 3-for-20 as a crew from 3-point vary.
The Lynx outscored the Solar in each quarter till the fourth, when the Solar obtained the deficit underneath double digits a few instances however by no means significantly threatened to make a comeback. Any time there was an inclination that the tide may flip of their favor, Collier would make a basket and finish the menace.
This collection has been an intense defensive matchup and feels as shut as a No. 2-seed-vs.- No. 3-seed collection must be. Connecticut is now dealing with elimination, however the excellent news for them is that they are going to be residence for Recreation 4. However the Solar will want much more offense to maintain their season alive. Maybe Marina Mabrey can do higher than 1-for-11 from 3-point vary? And may the bench assist out? In Recreation 3, the Solar reserves scored simply 4 factors, all coming from Veronica Burton. Olivia Nelson-Ododa and firm want to offer extra manufacturing if Connecticut is to pressure a Recreation 5.
