WNBA semifinals open 0-0: Liberty at Dream, Aces at Valkyries
Game 1 is Sunday 4 October. New York and Atlanta swept their first rounds. Neither semifinal has a score yet.
Why this match matters
The WNBA semifinals open on Sunday 4 October with both series at 0-0. New York Liberty at Atlanta Dream, 2:00 p.m. ET, ABC, in Atlanta. Las Vegas Aces at Golden State Valkyries, 4:00 p.m. ET, NBC, in San Francisco. CBS lists both Game 1s for that afternoon. This desk does not print a Game 1 winner.
What actually happened
The first round is finished. The eighth-seeded Liberty swept the top-seeded Lynx. Game 1 on Sunday 27 September was Liberty 91-75. Game 2 on Tuesday 29 September at Barclays was Liberty 87-71. ESPN: Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart scored 21 each, and Sabrina Ionescu scored 18, in Game 2. It is the first time a No. 8 seed has eliminated a No. 1 seed.
The fourth-seeded Dream swept the fifth-seeded Mystics. Game 1 on 27 September was Dream 92-77. Game 2 on Wednesday 30 September was Dream 93-75. ESPN and AP: Allisha Gray 22, Jordin Canada 19 with 11 assists and 7 rebounds, Rhyne Howard 15, Angel Reese 15. Sonia Citron scored 25 for Washington. It is the first Dream semifinal since 2018, and they host Game 1.
The Aces closed out the Fever in Game 3, 94-83, with Aja Wilson scoring 36. ESPN last-five: Game 1 was a 102-85 win on 27 September, Game 2 was a 99-89 loss on 29 September, Game 3 was the 94-83 win on 1 October. That is not a sweep. CBS: the Valkyries won their series 2-1, clinching Game 3 by 77-73 after trailing by 16, with Gabby Williams on 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
What it changes
Final regular-season records, StatMuse: Lynx 33-11, Valkyries 32-12, Aces 31-13, Dream 30-14, Mystics 28-16, Fever 28-16, Wings 27-17, Liberty 26-18. Sunday two Game 1s are the next basketball on this desk.
Sources
Every score and ranking on this page is locked to a named source. If it is not here, it is not on the page.