- The WNBA Finals are just around the corner, with one semifinal done, and another going to a series-deciding Game 5.
- The New York Liberty avenged their 2023 Finals loss to Las Vegas by beating the Aces in four games.
- The Connecticut Sun took the Minnesota Lynx to a fifth game with a huge Game 4 win.
The WNBA season is coming to the finish line, with the Finals slated to start on Thursday, October 10. We have one side of the Finals matchup set, as the New York Liberty ended Las Vegas’ chances of a three-peat and avenged last season’s Finals loss to the Aces.
On the other side, Minnesota and Connecticut are going to a fifth and deciding game on Tuesday night, with the winner going on to face the top-seeded Liberty.
Ionescu, Stewart Lead Liberty Over Wilson, Aces
The Las Vegas Aces defeated the New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals in four games last season, but the Liberty came back stronger and were the best team in the league all season. They knew that they would run into the Aces, who were going for a three-peat, at some point. New York was ready this time.
The Liberty took down the Aces in four games, winning Game 4 by a score of 76-62 in Las Vegas. Sabrina Ionescu continued her monster postseason with 22 points and seven rebounds, going 5-of-8 from three-point land. Breanna Stewart added 19 points, 14 boards, five assists and four blocks in a fantastic all-around performance.
The Aces got 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks from unanimous league MVP A’ja Wilson, but her teammates were inconsistent throughout the series. Kelsey Plum had 17 points and kept the Aces in it early, and Tiffany Hayes added 11 off the bench for Las Vegas, who fell just short of their three-peat goal.
Ionescu has been one of the two best players in the postseason, alongside Minnesota’s Nepheesa Collier. In six postseason games, Ionescu is averaging 20.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. She’s also shooting the lights out from three, hitting 46.5% of her attempts. That’s up from 33.3% in the regular season.
WNBA championship odds are going to favor the Liberty, regardless of who they’re playing. But if Ionescu is shooting like this, it’ll be a tough, tough road for New York’s opponent.
Lynx Host Sun in Critical Game 5
Connecticut staved off elimination with a 92-82 win over Minnesota at home in Game 4 of the other semifinal matchup. Alyssa Thomas filled the scoresheet with 18 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds, while DeWanna Bonner added 18 points and eight boards for the Sun, who also got 20 points from Tyasha Harris.
Nepheesa Collier was dominant with 29 points and 13 rebounds, while Courtney Williams added 11, and Natisha Hiederman had 16 off the bench for the Lynx. Minnesota was undone by a 25-13 disadvantage in the third quarter, where Connecticut controlled both ends of the floor.
Collier has been spectacular in the playoffs, averaging 27.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists for the Lynx. But her teammates, namely Williams, Kayla McBride, and Bridget Carleton, need to step up for this win-or-go-home Game 5.
WNBA betting sites have the Lynx favored at home in Game 5, and Minnesota is 3-1 at home in the playoffs so far. They’ll look to take advantage of their home court advantage on Tuesday night in Minnesota.
