WNBA semifinals: Dream and Valkyries lead 2-0 as Liberty and Aces face elimination
Game 2 thrillers leave top seeds on the brink before Friday night double-header in New York and Las Vegas.
Why these series matter
The WNBA playoffs have arrived at a Friday night crossroads. Both semifinal series stand at 2-0, with the lower seeds holding all the cards. The Atlanta Dream and the expansion Golden State Valkyries are each one win away from the WNBA Finals, while last year’s finalists, the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces, must win three consecutive games or see their seasons end.
How Wednesday played out
Wednesday’s Game 2 contests produced extraordinary drama. In College Park, Atlanta outlasted New York 101-98 in overtime. Angel Reese and Jordin Canada paced the Dream with 23 points each, withstanding Breanna Stewart’s 35-point, 11-rebound effort. Naz Hillmon provided the decisive bucket with 20.8 seconds left in the extra period.
Out west at Chase Center, the Valkyries secured an 83-81 victory over Las Vegas. Tiffany Hayes came off the bench for 21 points, while Gabby Williams added 20. Veronica Burton drained a cold-blooded 3-pointer with 41 seconds remaining, and Kiah Stokes blocked Chelsea Gray at the rim in the final seconds to lock down the win against A’ja Wilson’s 24-point display.
What Friday brings
Game 3 shifts to New York and Las Vegas on Friday night. The Dream visit Barclays Center at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, followed by the Valkyries taking on the Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena at 9:30 p.m. ET on Peacock. History is stark: no team in WNBA postseason history has ever rallied from an 0-2 deficit in a five-game series.
Sources
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