Today’s WNBA Playoff Games: Key Details on Tuesday’s Semifinals
The WNBA semifinals are moving on to their second games.
The final four teams remaining in the playoffs—New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, Minnesota Lynx, and Connecticut Sun—will face off on Tuesday evening, just two days after their first matches. So far, the playoffs have followed the expected outcomes, but on Sunday, the Sun surprised everyone by becoming the first lower-seeded team to win a playoff game this year, defeating the Lynx in Minnesota.
In the earlier match on Sunday, the Liberty triumphed over the Aces, showcasing their skills as they rematched from the 2023 WNBA Finals.
Here’s what you should know for Tuesday’s playoff games:
No. 1 New York Liberty vs. No. 4 Las Vegas Aces
- Time:Â 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV, streaming:Â ESPN2
- Location:Â Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
- Series standings:Â Liberty lead 1-0
What happened in the last game? The Liberty secured a series lead with a solid performance, led by Breanna Stewart’s impressive 34 points and Sabrina Ionescu’s contribution of 21 points. They effectively contained 2024 WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, who scored 21 points, and achieved a 10-point victory. Kelsey Plum was the standout for the Aces with 24 points, but New York’s focused approach defined the match.
What’s at stake? This is Game 2 of the best-of-five semifinal series. New York aims for a strong 2-0 lead before heading to Las Vegas, while the Aces desperately need a win in Brooklyn to regain homecourt advantage.
No. 2 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 3 Connecticut Sun
- Time:Â 9:30 p.m. ET
- TV, streaming:Â ESPN2
- Location:Â Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Series standings:Â Sun lead 1-0
What happened in the last game? In a close game, Sun forward Alyssa Thomas nearly achieved a triple-double, falling just one assist short. Connecticut held off the Lynx’s late-game runs to snag a road victory of 73-70. Thomas contributed 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Marina Mabrey led all scorers with 20 points, including six 3-pointers from long range.
What’s at stake? This is also the second game of a best-of-five series. The Lynx’s loss means they have already lost homecourt advantage, and they cannot afford to start the series with a 0-2 deficit heading into Connecticut. The Sun are in an advantageous position and will aim to extend their lead.
