The WNBA semifinals are set after a first round headlined by the New York Liberty eliminating the Minnesota Lynx, who had finished the regular season first overall. New York will now face the Atlanta Dream, who swept the Washington Mystics with ease.
On the other side of the bracket, the Golden State Valkyries overcame the Dallas Wings in three games. After a 27-point win in Game 1, the Valkyries lost Game 2 before rallying behind a strong fourth quarter from Gabby Williams to win the decider by four points and seal their first playoff series. The Las Vegas Aces completed the final four by beating the Indiana Fever in three games, leaning on A'ja Wilson, who averaged 32 points and 11.7 rebounds across the series.
The semifinals shift to a best-of-five format. New York will lean on Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones, the trio central to the Liberty's 2024 title run, while Stewart has averaged 27.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in the playoffs so far. Atlanta, powered by the Rhyne Howard-Allisha Gray backcourt and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese, present a sterner test. "Playoff experience really counts," Stewart said. "So much happens in a long series that you have to stay focused on the ultimate goal. Our objective was not to be eliminated in the first round."
