4 first-round Sport 1s. 4 wins for the higher-seeded groups.
The 2024 WNBA playoffs started with a sweep for the higher-seeded squads:
No. 1-seed New York Liberty 83, No. 8-seed Atlanta Dream 69
No. 3 seed Connecticut Solar 93, No. 6-seed Indiana Fever 69
No. 2-seed Minnesota Lynx 102, No. 7-seed Phoenix Mercury 95
No. 4-seed Las Vegas Aces 78, No. 5-seed Seattle Storm 67
Right here’s how the Liberty, Solar, Lynx and Aces received the roles performed:
Liberty, Leo lap Dream
Head coach Sandy Brondello confirmed she was not messing round on Sunday afternoon, making a shock change to the beginning lineup. To the bench went Courtney Vandersloot, the championship-winning level guard who has misplaced a step or two over the previous season, and into the primary 5 was Leonie Fiebich, the Sixth Participant of the 12 months candidate who presents extra dimension on protection and a larger willingness to shoot on offense.
Fiebich made Brondello look fairly prescient. The 6-foot-4 first-year wing from Germany turned in a historic playoff debut. After making her first 5 photographs, Fiebich was on her method to a career-high 21-point afternoon, going 7-for-8 from the sphere and 4-for-4 from 3. She additionally added two steals.
The pressing mindset Brondello communicated with the beginning lineup shift was mirrored all through the roster. The No. 1-seed Liberty didn’t waste any time establishing a lead that the No. 8-seed Dream wouldn’t come near overcoming. Main by 18 factors on the half, New York would stretch their benefit to as many as 22 factors. By the fourth quarter, Dream head coach Tanisha Wright had thrown within the towel, with solely reserves taking part in the sport’s closing 10 minutes. The Liberty cruised to the 83-69 Sport 1 win.
Regardless of coming off the bench, Vandersloot additionally had a historic afternoon, with three assists permitting her to surpass Sue Chicken, who was sitting courtside a Barclays Heart, for essentially the most assists in WNBA playoff historical past.
Breanna Stewart had a double-double of 20 factors and 11 boards for New York, whereas Sabrina Ionescu netted a trio of triples, ending with 17 factors and 5 assists. Rhyne Howard led Atlanta with 14 factors, albeit on 14 area purpose makes an attempt. She additionally had six boards, 4 assists and three steals. Former Liberty star Tina Charles added 12 factors and 7 rebounds for the Dream.
Quite a bit should change for Atlanta to problem, a lot much less defeat, New York in Sport 2, which might be held Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET in Brooklyn (ESPN). In any other case, the top-seeded Liberty will ease out of the primary spherical with out a lot stress or sweat.
Mabrey shines as Solar burn Fever
A variety of Fever devoted invaded Mohegan Solar Area on Sunday afternoon. But, the hometown and No. 3-seed Solar finally have been unfazed by the quantity of tourists supporting the No. 6-seed Fever as they surged to the Sport 1 win, 93-69.
The primary half was a start-and-stop scrap, that includes a lot of fouls and some too many clock points. Solar head coach Stephanie White deputized DeWanna Bonner on Caitlin Clark. The 15-year vet, who’s 6-foot-4 with seemingly countless limbs, efficiently slowed the star rookie, holding her to 3 factors on 1-for-9 taking pictures via the primary two quarters. The defensive effort additionally energized her offense, as Bonner’s 16 factors helped Connecticut acquire a 46-38 halftime benefit.
Whilst the sport opened up within the second half, the Solar exerted tighter management over the proceedings. Marina Mabrey received the second-half begin for the Solar, as an early-game ankle damage sidelined beginning guard Ty Harris for the rest of the afternoon. Mabrey responded by sinking plenty of well timed triples, stopping the Fever from slicing Connecticut’s steadily growing margin. Mabrey had three 3s and 11 factors within the third quarter earlier than including 9 factors, together with two extra 3s, within the closing body. She completed with 27 factors, essentially the most factors scored by a bench participant in WNBA playoff historical past.
Connecticut additionally dialed up their protection, with their effort on that finish of the ground highlighted by a chasedown block by DiJonai Carrington.
Indiana’s lack of ability to attach from behind the arc sunk any upset hopes. For the reason that Olympic break, the Fever had shot practically 40 % from 3 as a staff. On Sunday, they have been 6-for-28 from deep, with each Clark and Kelsey Mitchell connecting on lower than 20 % of their long-range makes an attempt and managing solely two 3s a chunk. So, after typically crossing the 90-point plateau over the season’s closing stretch, the Fever discovered their method to lower than 70 factors. Mitchell led the staff with 21 factors, with Aliyah Boston including a double-double of 17 factors and 11 rebounds. Clark had 11 factors and eight assists.
On the Solar aspect, Mabrey’s outburst was supported by Bonner’s sustained scoring effort; she completed with 22 factors. Thomas tallied her fourth-career playoff triple-double with 12 factors, 10 rebounds and 13 assists.
To increase the collection to a Sport 3 in Indiana, the Fever want the 3-point gods to smile on them in Sport 2, which is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) in Connecticut.
Lynx, Collier outlast Mercury, Cloud
Though she was the runner up on the 2024 WNBA MVP poll, Napheesa Collier turned in an MVPhee efficiency on Sunday. Her 23 first-half factors spurred the No. 2-seed Lynx to a 56-42 lead at halftime over the No. 7-seed Mercury. With the Lynx main by as many as 23 factors within the first 20 minutes, the sport had the makings of a rout.
Nonetheless, Natasha Cloud refused to let the Mercury go down and not using a combat. The final time she was on a playoff court docket, Cloud, then with the Washington Mystics, had 33 factors, 9 assists, six rebounds and 4 steals, valiantly making an attempt to forestall the Liberty from sweeping the Mystics in final yr’s first spherical. On Sunday, she authored one other epic postseason efficiency, with 33 factors, 10 assists and 6 rebounds. Cloud, helped by 5 triples from Diana Taurasi, prevented the Lynx from pulling away.
Within the fourth quarter, Kahleah Copper joined the occasion, scoring eight factors in first 5 minutes of the ultimate body to present the Mercury a one-point lead, 86-85, with 4 and half minutes to go.
Courtney Williams then countered for Lynx, hitting a midranger earlier than discovering Myisha Hines-Allen (twice) and Napheesa Collier for simple scores. With slightly below two minutes to go, Minnesota clung to a 93-92 lead. They’d then rating the subsequent seven factors, together with a dagger 3 from Bridget Carleton. Alanna Smith consolidated the emotional crescendo attributable to Carleton’s 3 with a block on a Copper drive. From there, the Lynx iced the sport on the free throw line, exhaling with a 102-95 win.
Collier completed with 38 factors, her new playoff profession excessive and simply 4 factors shy of Angel McCoughtry’s single-game playoff scoring document; she additionally had six rebounds and 4 assists. Kayla McBride added 20 factors, whereas Hines-Allen contributed 10 factors and 5 boards from off the bench. Williams completed with 9 factors and eight assists. For Phoenix, Cloud’s tour de drive was complemented by 21 factors from Taurasi. Copper completed with 16 factors. It was a quieter afternoon for Brittney Griner, who had 10 factors and 6 boards.
Sport 2 suggestions off on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) in Minnesota. To ship the collection to a decisive Sport 3 in Phoenix, the Mercury seemingly want one other heroic effort from Cloud, together with extra spectacular contributions from her co-stars.
Aces, A’ja end sturdy in opposition to Storm
The celebratory temper in Michelob ULTRA Area didn’t translate to a quick begin for the back-to-back defending champs and newly-minted three-time MVP. (Perhaps don’t announce the unanimous MVP award within the early morning hours on a recreation day?)
The No. 4-seed Aces scored simply 9 first-quarter factors, with A’ja Wilson going 1-for-8 from the sphere. The No. 5-seed Storm weren’t precisely on hearth both, however nonetheless managed to double up the house staff. Whilst each groups discovered a scoring groove within the second quarter, Seattle maintained their edge at halftime, 42-38. Nneka Ogwumike had 13 first-half factors, whereas Jordan Horston buoyed the Storm with eight factors from off the bench within the second quarter. Sixth Participant of the 12 months candidate Tiffany Hayes likewise gave the Aces a carry, with 12 factors within the second interval.
After the break, Vegas started to resemble the staff that completed the common season by profitable 9 of their final 10 video games. Wilson discovered her M’VP type, scoring 15 factors on 7-for-10 taking pictures within the third quarter. Seattle largely saved tempo, with Gabby Williams’ 9 third-quarter factors serving to her staff maintain a one-point lead, 65-64, coming into the ultimate 10 minutes.
The fourth quarter, nonetheless, was a special story. The Storm’s offense evaporated, a devastating dry spell induced, partially, by the Aces’ protection. Seattle didn’t make a area purpose within the fourth, with a pair of free throws from Skylar Diggins-Smith serving because the Storm’s solely two factors. Seattle additionally had six of their 13 turnovers within the closing interval.
Whereas Wilson cooled off, the Aces discovered sufficient offense to ultimately draw back for the 78-67 win. Kelsey Plum’s solely two factors of the night gave Vegas their first lead of the sport with roughly seven minutes remaining. Down the stretch, the queen of the clutch, Chelsea Grey, put the ending touches on the victory, propelling Vegas’ 8-0 closing run.
Wilson completed with 21 factors, eight rebounds and 5 blocks. Hayes totaled 20 factors, 4 rebounds and 5 steals. Grey completed with 16 factors and 7 assists. Diggins-Smith led Seattle with 16 factors and eight assists. Scoreless within the second half, Ogwumike completed with 13 factors and 10 boards. Jewell Loyd, who had missed the ultimate three video games of the common season with knee irritation, scored simply six factors. Ezi Magbegor missed the sport resulting from a concussion.
It looks as if Seattle missed their alternative to steal a recreation. Certainly, the Aces will come out with extra firepower in Sport 2, which might be on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).
